Historical Sketch 



> 



V 1 TrfLP 1+ 4 Jfwt f 



NEWPORT, R. I. 



-BY— 



C. E. BARROWS, Pastor. 




Glass. 

Book .N 5Bs 



HISTORY 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 



NEWPORT, R. I. 



A DISCOURSE 



Delivered on Thanksgiving Day, 

November 30, 1876. 



PASTOR OF THE CHUKCH. 



Published hy t request 91 tbe OJ&u,rch, 



NEWPORT : 
John P. Sanborn & Co., Printers, Mercury Printing House. 

1876. 



£/?£* 



Ct 



Discourse. 



PsALM CXLV. 4. One generation shall praise thy works to 
another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 

As announced on Sunday last, I propose to give you this 
morning an outline of the history of this church. We are 
assembled, I do not forget, according to a time honored cus- 
tom, to offer the tribute of grateful 'hearts to the Supreme 
Ruler of nations and Disposer of events for the manifold 
gifts of his providence and his grace. He has, indeed, richly 
blessed us, as individuals, as families, and as a chuuch, and 
richly blessed also our broad land. To him I would direct 
your thoughts to-day, as the source of all good. The fact 
should at this hour be deeply impressed upon our minds that 
his hand is guiding in all the complicated movements of earth, 
and may be discovered through all the past history of the 
world, timing the march of events in the interests of the 
Redeemer's kingdom among men. And he who is thus con- 
trolling and guiding the course of human history, does not 
forget or neglect the parts of which the whole is composed. 
The grand whole is ordered in infinite wisdom, because, as 
we are assured, the Lord condescends to the smallest details. 
So minute, indeed, is his superintendence, that not a sparrow 
falls to the ground without his notice. Surely he who cares 
for the most insignificant parts of his creation, who paints the 



4 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

• 

lilies of the field and feeds the birds of the air, will provide 
for those who have been made in his own image, and for 
whom his Sun gave his Life a ransom. The Lord fondly cher- 
ishes every disciple of his, and tenderlj regards all his 
churches. I If cares foi each one of us. and for this church 
which his right hand planted, and which he has lovingly fos- 
tered through all the years of its eventful history. lam 
sure that I cannot do yon a better service than to trace the 
way in which the Lord has led this people, and to recount 
what he did for our fathers, and what he enabled them to do 
for their respective generations and for the world. 

It seems eminently fitting that on this Centennial year we 
should make such a review. This year is a memorable one 
in our country's history. During its mouths we have been 
compelled often to look back, almost to live in the past ; 
our periodical literature — papers, magazines, reviews — lias 
given much space to by-gone events : we are all more or Less 
in what I may call a historical attitude. Our magnificent 
Exhibition, bo recently closed, had a historical significance. 
There were gathered the marvellous products of the country, 
showing its unprecedented growth in material wealth. Dis- 
coveries in almost every branch of knowledge were dis- 
played, and curious and useful inventions for reducing the 
amount of manual toil in the several departments of indus- 
try. There, too, at the Exposition, was afforded an oppor- 
tunity to study the growth and present condition of the mosl 
important foreign countries, and to institute a kind of 
rough comparison between the different nationalities. The 
year is moreover being utilized still further for the purpi 
of history ; there having been produced man) local histories, 
histories of towns and cities, of educational progress and in- 
stitutions, of military organizations, of churches of Christ 
and other religious societies. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 5 

* 

Nor will we forget that this is an anniversary year in the 
calendar of this church, that this is the bicentenary of the 
death of its first pastor. 

It is, nevertheless, only an outline of the history of the 
church that we can attempt in a single discourse. For it is 
a long period that we shall have to traverse. The history 
will lead us back through many generations. While the 
country is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary, and is 
recounting the exploit^ of men who have already receded 
into the shadowy past, we must go back to a remoter past, 
to a time before the revolution, before its patriots and heroes 
were born, even to the very beginnings of our country's life, 
when the New England colonies were being settled, — through 
a period of two centuries and a third. How greatly those 
times differed from the present in customs and manners, in 
laws and government, and in the general spirit that pervaded 
them ! Let us remember that Charles I. was on the throne 
of England, that the Earl of Strafford was his prime # minis- 
ter, and that William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury. 
The breach between the Court and the Parliament, already 
considerable, was rapidly widening. The government was 
becoming constantly more arbitrary and despotic. The king 
and his ministers were seeking to rule England without re- 
course to Parliament and in violation of Magna Charta and 
every constitutional safeguard of the rights of subjects. 
And there was meanwhile a growing discontent among the 
people, and a more determined resistance to the monstrous 
assumptions of the Crown. Men were taking a defiant at- 
titude even toward the king, and were daring to assert their 
rights with a boldness unparalleled in English history. 

But we should wholly fail to understand those times, if 
we took no notice of the religious condition of the country. 



li HISTORICAL DISCOUESE 

• 

The politics of England were largely shaped by ecclesiasti- 
cal considerations. It was the encroachment of governmeni 
upon the domain of religion thai awakened the strongesl 
antagonisms. Conformity was the watchword of the zeal- 
ous Laud. By increasing the rigors of ecclesiastical law, 
and punishing with severity the slightest deviation from his 
multiplied regulations, many of them deemed thoroughly 
papistical, the Archbishop called down upon himself, and 
upon his devoted confrere^ the Earl of Strafford, and even 
upon Charles, his royal master, a terrible storm of popular 
indignation which swept them all from their places of power 
and sent them to an untimely death. 

Among the opponents of the king were some in the ( 'hureh 
of England, who thereby became Nbn Conformists. But the 
strength of the opposition came from the large body of Dis- 
senters, already known as Puritans. The Puritans, who ap- 
pealed with the Reformation under Henry, and had become 
numerpus in the reign of James, were now a recognized 
power in the realm. While, however, a unit in their resist- 
ance to the encroachments of the Crown, upon other mat- 
ters the Puritans were divided among themselves. The dis- 
tinction which concerns us now, however, is that which ap- 
pears in THE GROtfKD OF OPPOSITION to Laud, or in the 
reason assigned for repugnance to the ecclesiastical laws im- 
posed by him. While groaning under the burdens of the 
Establishment — and the entire population of the kingdom 
was -considered to belong legally to the ('hureh of Eng- 
land" — and while vigorouslj seeking to throw off from them- 
selves this incubus, the greal body of the Puritans did not 
discern the injustice of the principle of governmental interfer- 
ence with the religious faith of the people ; they only deplored 
what thin/ conceived t<> he a misapplication of the principle. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 7 

This was shown during- the supremacy of the Presbyterians 
in England and Scotland, and during the early rule of the 
Congregationalists in New England. In his recent learned 
monograph, (1) Dr. Henry M. Dexter truthfully says : "The 
ancient idea was of one all-embracing, infallible and unchange- 
able church. And in England the Reformation had scarcely 
more than transferred that idea from the Pope's church to 
that of Henry VIII. And when our fathers dared to differ 
with that State church in matters of polity, they did so with 
the sincere belief that the government was right in its funda- 
mental principles, only mistaken in their application ; right 
in rigidly ruling with reference to spiritual things, only 
wrong in the data by which that rule was determined ; right 
in compelling men as to their church polity, only wrong as 
to the kind of polity which was the object of such compul- 
sion/' These Puritans were not opposed to the principle of 
the union of church and state, if only the alliance were 
made with the true church— their own. The true church, 
it was claimed, and is even still claimed by some communi- 
ties, has the right to enforce its laws— because they must be 
divine laws— with pains and penalties. And the only rea- 
son why this course is not pursued, is because the religious 
world is divided into so many different sects, and the true 
church is in the minority. Whereas the true church, though 
conscious that it is the true, apostolic church, has no such 
right given to it, has delegated to it no such authority. Its 
constitution and its work are both alike opposed to the 
thought. It can rever make disciples by physical compul- 
sion. It can never propagate its faith with a blade of steel. 
The church of Christ can employ only moral and spiritual 
means in doing its divinely given work. 

1. As to Roger Williams, and his 'banishment' from the Massachusetts riantati<m< 

A Monograph by Henry Marly,, Dexter, L>. l>., etc. Boston ('on'4^' ona 'u ' 
lishing Society. 1876. Pp, K>8, 109. «-uii 6 regaiionairuD- 



8 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

Dr. Dexter mighl have testified further, that there were at 
the time of which he speaks, embraced under the general 
term of Puritan, those who strenuously maintained that the 
principle of state compulsion in religion was wrong and per- 
nicious. The doet line pf religious liberty was at that time a 
distinctively Baptist doctrine, being considered by its oppo- 
nents as dangerous as any tenet of Rome. Before the reign 
oi' Elizabeth, Baptists had spoken plainly in behalf of relig- 
ious lihert v. And their utterances became clearer and more 
emphatic until, eight years after the accession of James, this 
doet tine was boldly embodied in a confession of their faith. 
Subsequently, fuller confessions of this truth — though none 
more explicit — were given to the world. Let us remember 
that it was a quarter of a century after the issuing of their 
confession embiacing an article on religious liberty and the 
sending forth of a tract containing a plea for liberty of con- 
science, that our fathers began to plant this island and to 
gather a church of Christ. But although these opinions had 
been ably advocated by a respectable body of Christians for 
so long a time, they made but slow progress and gained but 
comparatively few adherents. The English government 
meanwhile relaxed none of its severity, and the colonies in 
the New World were started upon the same principle of gov- 
ernmental interference in religious concerns, and were neces- 
sarily led into the same courses of persecution and spiritual 
oppression. From England our fathers had been driven to 
Massachusetts Bay, and from Massachusetts Bay they were 
again driven to these shores. Such in brief, was the general 
state of society, and such were some of the tendencies of 
religions thought in England, at the time when the men 
who formed this church were being trained for the difficult 
tasks to which Providence had called them. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 9 

It would be pleasant for us to set out on our historical 
survey from some definite date. We can, however, give 
neither the day, nor the month, nor even the year, when this 
church was organized. It will, however, I suppose, be in- 
cumbent upon me to say a few words on the subject ; although 
I cannot solve the question, or indeed throw upon it any new 
light. I can do little more than state what evidence we have 
bearing upon the date, which may, perhaps, help us to ap- 
proximate the truth. 

John Comer, who lived about ninety years after the settle- 
ment of this island, was the first writer who sought to as- 
certain the date in question. He found a manuscript giving 
a list, of the members of the church in 1648. But upon in- 
quiry he found that the church was in existence as much 
earlier certainly as 1644. This is the minute preserved in 
the church book, as made by Mr. Comer: "Having found a 
private record of Mr. Samuel Hubbard, who was a member 
of this church, by which I find that this church was in being 
as long back as Oct. 12. 1648 ; but how long before justly 
by any manuscript I can't find, but by private information it 
was constituted about 1644." In a manuscript he left, said 
to be now in the possession of the Backus Historical Society, 
he repeats the statement that "the church was first gathered 
by Mr. Clarke about 1644." Callender, in his Century Ser- 
mon, cautiously states the matter thus : "It is said that in 
1644 Mr. John Clarke and some others formed a church on 
the scheme and principles of the Baptists." The researches 
of Backus inclined him to adopt an earlier date as the proba- 
ble one. In his history he says, "The first Baptist church, 
we are told, was formed and set in order about the year 1644, 
under the ministry of Mr. John Clarke," adding, in a note, 
that the date "appears as likely to be earlier as later than 



LO HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

that time." There are some circumstanced which strongly 
favor the opinion thai the church was formed during the very 
firsl year of the settlement of the island. 

We certainly know that Mr. Clarke was a preacher on the 
Island from the beginning. We know that at the very out- 
set a church was formed; that this church disfellowshipped 
the church in Boston, with which most of its members had 
been connected; that letters from that church were returned 
unacknowledged, and messengers t hence were refused a hear- 
ing. The treatment received in Boston had left few pleasant 
memories of the old church, and was destined to work still 
more radical changes in most of the planters. A Congr.ega- 
tionalist minister who had been a fellow sufferer with them, 
and had shared some of their convictions, but not all of them, 
seems at first to have been expected here ; but he never 
came. And "in the meanwhile Mr. John Clarke, who was a 
man of letters, carried on public worship." Viewed as re- 
ligious men. the early planters may perhaps be divided into 
three classes. There were, first, those who came as Baptists 
from England ; secondly, those who while connected with 
Mr. Cotton's church in Boston were Baptists in sentiment ; 
and thirdly, those who though not Baptists were in a transi- 
tion state. Gov. Winthrop mentions the fact that in 1640-41 
there were "professed Anabaptist s" on the island. Some 
have supposed this to be the date of the organization of the 
church — the present church arising from the ashes of the 
former. A certain Mr. Lechford, in a rapid survey of the 
New England colonies in the year 1640, found the Rhode 
Island colony in a very wretched state indeed religiously. 
What churches there were had all gone to pieces. In a small 
book, whose address "to the nailer'* is dated Jan. 1641, he 
says : (1) "At the island called Aquedney are about two hnn- 
i. Plain Dealing, Trumbull's edition, p. 93. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 11 

dred families. There was a church where one master Clarke 
was Elder. The place where the church was, is called New- 
port, but the church, I hear, is now dissolved ; as also divers 
churches in the country have been broken up and dis- 
solved through dissention. (1) At the other end of the 
island there is another town called Portsmouth, but no 
church ; there is a meeting of some men, who there teach 
one another, and call it prophecy." u At Providence, which 
is twenty miles from the said island, lives master Wil- 
liams, and his company of divers opinions ; most are Ana- 
baptists ; they hold there is no true visible church in the 
Bay, nor in the world; nor any true ministry." 

But while the date of its origin is veiled in obscurity, 
there is no uncertainty as to its first minister. And here it 
is worthy of remark, and is perhaps without parallel in the 
history of churches, that during the entire period of its ex- 
istence this church has had but fourteen pastors. We men- 
tion this permanency in the pastoral relation as a fact some- 
what remarkable, not to express an opinion on the question 
whether long or short pastorates are the better for a church. 
It may perhaps be doubted, however, whether this church 
would, on the whole, have been better served by a more fre- 
quent change. If attended with some disadvantages, this 
stability in the pastoral office has had for the church its 
compensations. 

First in the list of pastors stands the name of John 
Clarke, who, according to a record in an old family Bible 
said to be still in existence, (2) was one of seven children, 

1. The Massachusetts Historical Society possesses a manuscript copy of a part 
of Plain Dealing, "written prior to the printed copy", and differing from it in 
some material points. In this older manuscript, the sentence given in the text 
reads as follows : "At the Island called Aqueduct/, are about one hundred fami- 
lies. There is a church, where one master Clarke is Pastor The place where 

the church is, is called Ifewporte." The words, "But that church through dis- 
sention," are not in the Mass. Hist. Soc. Ms., where the sentence ends with 
"Newport." Note by the Editor, Hon. J. H. Trumbull. 

'-'. Backus, History, Weston's edition. I. rt-ts. 



12 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

and was born Oct.tt, L609, in Suffolk, England. Another 
tradition makes liiin a native of Bedfordshire, the birthplace 
of his first wife. He was an educated man, although at 
what university he was matriculated is not known. He was 
undoubtedly a Christian and a Baptist before leaving Eng- 
land. Certainly when lie reached the New World his relig- 
ious convictions differed from those of the Puritans of 
Massachusetts, and his views of religious liberty were 
already very mature, in harmony with the doctrine of Bap- 
tists on the subject. When he arrived at Boston in Novem- 
ber, 1637, the Antinomian controversy, which had thrown 
the town into the greatest excitement, was approaching, its 
culmination, and several of the Antinomian leaders were 
just on the eve of being banished from the colony. Although 
not entangled in this bitter controversy. Mr. Clarke deter- 
mined at once to leave, and led a movement for colonizing. (1) 
In March. 1638, he with his friends settled on this island. 
While almost continuously busy in laying the foundations 
of the future commonwealth, we find that he at once made 
religious service a paramount duty. He was engaged in 
preaching from the beginning, and until the coming of 
ROBERT LENTHALL, who was admitted a freeman here Aug. 
20, 1040. Mr. Lenthall had been accused, two years before, 
at Weymouth, in the Massachusetts colony, of -Antinomian 
and Anabaptistical errors." "From the former," says Win- 
throp, (2) "he was soon taken off upon conference with Mr. 

i. He says : "In the year37 I left my native land, and in the ninth month ol 
the same, I (through mercy) arrived a1 Boston: I was no sooner on shore, bu1 there 
appeared to Be differences among them touching the Covenants, ami in point < >f 
evidencing a man's good estate; some prest hard tor the Covenant of works, 

others prest as hard for the Covenant of grace. ... l thought ii nol strange t" 

Bee nun diner about matters of heaven, tor t expect mi less upon earth, inn [sail 
ii was io s,r that they were not able so to bear with each other in their different 
understandings and consciences, as in those utmost parts of the world to live 
peaceably together. Whereupon] moved the latter, forasmuch as the land was 
before us and wide enough, with tin- proffer of Abraham to Lot, and for peace 
sake, to turn aside to the right hand, or to the left. The motion was readily 
accepted, ami I was requested with some others to seek out a place, which ac- 
cordingly l was ready to do." /// News; 4 Mass. Hist. I. j, .;. 
History New England, [1.287. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 13 

Cotton, but he stuck close to the other, that only baptism 
was the door of entrance into the church." He had at- 
tempted in 1638, together with John Smith, John Spur, and 
others, to form a Baptist church at that place. "He labored 
hard," says Hubbard, (1) "to get such a church on foot, as 
all baptized ones might communicate in, without any further 
trial of them." And both Winthrop and Hubbard agree 
"that the common sort of people did eagerly embrace his 
opinions." But the attempt was frustrated by the vigorous 
interference of the magistrates. And Mr. Lenthall removed 
to Newport. 

On his arrival here, Mr. Lenthall taught a public school, 
said to have been the earliest attempt of the kind in the 
country, if not in the world. He became at once helpful to 
Mr. Clarke, taking a prominent part in a public controversy 
which soon arose respecting two fundamental questions, 
namely, the sufficiency of Scripture as a rule of faith and 
practice, and the existence upon earth of a visible church 
with visible ordinances. Antinomians among the planters 
were pushing their principles still further, and claiming 
to be in possession of an inner light, which was to be fol- 
lowed rather than the teaching of the Word of God. "On 
the one side were Mr. Coddington, Mr. Coggeshall and 
some others, but their minister, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Lenthall, 
Mr. Harding, and some others dissented and publicly opposed, 
whereby it grew to such a heat of contention that it made a 
schism among them." (2) Mr. Clarke and his friends dis- 
sented from these new opinions which were being broached, 
and strenuously opposed them. 

There united with the church in 1648, one to whom we 
are greatly indebted to-day, one who did very much to pre- 

1. History. 2 Mass. Hist. Coll. V. 275. . 

2. Winthrop, Vol. II. pp. 40, 41. Backus, History, Vol. I. p. 97. 



14 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

serve a record of our church history and of the general 
history of theperiod. Samuel Hubbard was baptized into 
tlic church on the 3d of November <>f this year. Mr. 
Backus (1) lias givea this condensed account of his life. 
He "came over to Salem in 1633, in his youth; joined to 
Watertown church in 1635; hut went the same yearupto 
Windsor. [Conn.] where he soon married a church member 
that removedfrom Dorchester, and they settled at Weathers-< 
tield : till in May. It;:!'.*, they removed to Springfield, and he 
was one of the live men .who first joined in founding that 
church. It was constituted under Connecticut government, 
hut falling afterwards into the Massachusetts, he removed in 
1»)47 to Fairfield. Thoughhe said, "God having enlightened 
both, hut mostly my wife, into his holy ordinance of baptizing 
only visible believers; and being zealous for it. she was 
mostly struck at, and answered twice publicly, where I 
was said to he as had as she, and threatened with imprison- 
ment to Hartford gaol, if we did not renounce it or remove. 
Thai Scripture came into our minds. If they persecute you 
in one place, flee to another." Whereupon they removed to 
New port, and joined to Elder Clarke's church there on 
November :'>,1<i4s, where they lived to old age ; from whence 
he repeatedly visited his suffering brethren at Boston, and 
had an extensive correspondence both in Europe and Amer- 
ica: and he eopied several hundred of his own and others' 
letters into a hook, which I am now favored with ; contain- 
ing a fund of intelligence, from 1»>41 to 1688." 

Of the fifteen names in the list of members of the church, 
as it was on the day of Mr. Hubbard's baptism, a few deserve 
to he mentioned. Two of them. Thomas and Joseph 
Clarke, were brothers of the pastor, the Latter was "often 
a magistrate in the colony." William WeedeN became 
i . History. Vol, 1. Preface, p. Lx. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 15 

the first deacon in the church. Mark Lucar, one of the 
earliest "ruling elders," — for such an officer seems in the 
beginning to have been recognized. In 1650, he assisted in 
a religious work in Seekonk, when several were baptized on 
profession of their faith in Christ. The last name on the list 
is that of Painter, the Christian name being omitted, prob- 
ably Thomas Painter, of Hingham. Gov. Winthrop has in 
his Journal (1) given an account of him not at all flattering. 
The Massachusetts authorities had had trouble with him on 
account of his religious scruples. His chief crime against 
the public peace, that at any rate for which in 1644 he was 
ordered by the Court to be whipped, was his stoutly refusing 
to suffer his new-born babe to be carried to the baptismal 
font, and his saying that this "baptism was antichristian." 

The church was greatly strengthened a few years later by 
a valuable accession of members, which happened on this 
wise. Baptist sentiments appeared in Seekonk (Rehoboth), 
and so increased that about 1649 an attempt was made to 
form a Baptist church. For this purpose assistance was 
sought from Newport. The pastor, with Mark Lucar, re- 
paired thither to explain the way of the Lord more fully, to 
give needed counsel, and to perform any service required of 
them in the circumstances. Mr. Clarke had the pleasure of 
baptizing in likeness of the Savior's death several willing- 
candidates, men and women, who had found the light and 
desired to walk in the way of the Lord's commands. (2) 
But the Plymouth magistrates, though not using so great 
severity as their neighbors at the Ba} r in similar circumstan- 
ces, prosecuted the persons who had dared to take this step, 
and broke up the struggling church. Most of the members 
removed to Newport, and in 1650, or early in 1651, united 

1. Vol. II. 174. 

2. Narr. Club Pub. VI, 188. 4 Mass. Hist. Coll. VI. l'74. 



It) HISTORICAL IHSColRSK 

themselves with this church. Some of them became pillars 
in the church and eminent in the colony. Among them were 
bad i ah Holmes and Joseph Torrev, whom we shall 
meet again, and Edwaed Smith, often a magistrate. 

Notwithstanding the stringent Law enacted, by the General 
Court of Massachusetts in 1644, just after the offence of 
"poor Painter," Baptist sentiment continued to spread in 
that colony, and ever and anon sought to organize itself, but 
the vigilance of the magistrates was unremitting. No matter 
where the pestilent heresy appeared, there the authority of 
the colony was felt. Some of these scattered Baptists held 
their membership with this church. There was one such 
who lived in the town of Lynn, who was visited in 1651 by 
the pastor and two of his brethren. This brother, William 
Witter, had, eight years before the present visit from his 
Newport friends, spoken very strongly against infant bap- 
tism, calling it the badge and sign of popery. At a Court 
held in Salem in 1645, he "was presented by the grand jury 
for saying that they who staid whilst a child is baptized do 
worship the devil" ; and being further dealt with, he said. 
"that they who staid at the baptizing of a child did take 
the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost in vain, broke 
the Sabbath, and confessed and justified the former 
speech." (1) Rather strong words, but perhaps necessary td 
give expression to his strong convictions. But he was now 
blind and infirm (2) and needed Christian counsel and con- 
solation, and perhaps he knew of others who required the 
presence of a Baptist minister; and hence the celebrated 
visit of Clarke and his friends. This visit has been rendered 
so memorable, both on account of the treatment tl 
Christian men received from the local authorities, and also 
nn account of the influence which, in the providence of God, 

i Mom. Col. Her. III. 67 68. 

•j. /// trews, i Mom. Hist. CoU. II. 27. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 17 

the visit had over individual lives and .in determining the 
course of events in the Massachusetts colony, that we must 
delay a few moments upon it. 

A journey from Newport to Lynn was not at that time one 
of hours, but of days. It was not made by rail then as now, 
nor even by stage coach, but by private conveyance ; and 
Mr. Clarke and his friends possibly went on foot. It was 
midsummer. Dusty and weary, the travellers reached their 
destination on a Saturday evening. The house of their 
brother, where they were kindly entertained, was two miles 
out of the village. To this quiet Christian home they were 
joyfully welcomed. "The next being the Lord's day they 
concluded to spend it in religious worship at his house." 
While the pastor was in this private manner discoursing upon 
the temptations which come to the people of God, he was 
seized by two constables and held in custody. Occasion was 
found, however, it would seem, to administer the Lord's or- 
dinances ; baptism to candidates waiting to follow Christ in 
this way of his appointment, and the Lord's supper to the 
little company of believers. In this act there was no in- 
fringement of the law of Christ, nor any deviation from 
Baptist usage. The following words of Dr. Heman Lin- 
coln (1) are just to the point. "Mr. Witter had, probably, 
written to the church at Newport, that there were persons 
in his vicinity who wished to be baptized. The church 
sent, not t*heir pastor alone, but Holmes, also a preacher, and 
Crandall, a private member, that their number might give a 
church authority to all their acts. They baptized the can- 
didates, one of whom may have been under admonition in a 
State church for his Baptist opinions. The supper was then 
celebrated, and the newly baptized converts partook with 

1. In the Examiner and Chronicle, Dec. 23,1875. One of a series of Centennial 
Notes in that Journal on the First New England Baptists, 
o 



I s BISTOBICAL DISCOURSE 

Witter. This view, which is in perfect harmony with all 
the facts in the case, makes the administration of the supper 
an orderly service, such as the strictest Baptist would ap- 
prove. The Newport church kept the ordinance, at one of 
its outposts, as many of our churches in Burmah and China 
observe it frequently in our day." 

On Tuesday, the three strangers were sent to Boston and 
committed to prison. When brought before the Court to 
answer for their misdemeanors, Mr. Clarke relates: "The 
Governor stepped up and told us we had denied infant bap- 
tism, and being somewhat transported, told me I had deserved 
death, and said he would not have such trash brought into 
their jurisdiction. Moreover, he said, you go up and down, 
and secretly insinuate into those who are weak; but you can- 
not maintain your teaching before our ministers. You may 
try and dispute with them." And Mr. Clarke at once pre- 
pared himself accordingly ; and was then informed that the 
disputation could not take place. 

He reduced his propositions, however, to writing, four in 
number, and the following year gave them to the public. 
The first had respect to the kingship of Christ ; "that there 
is none to or with him by w r ay of commanding and ordering, 
with respect to the worship of God, the household of faith." 
The second stated "that baptism, or dipping in water, is one 
of the commandments of this Lord Jesus Christ, and that a 
visible believer or disciple of Christ Jesus (that is, one 
that manifesteth repentance toward God and faith in Jesus 
Christ) is the only person that is to be baptized." The 
third, "that every such believer in Christ Jesus may in point 
of liberty, yea, ought in point of duty, to improve that tal- 
ent his Lord hath given unto him, and in the congregation 
may speak by way of prophecy for the edification, exhorta- 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 19 

tion and comfort of the whole. " The fourth, "that no such 
believer or servant of Christ Jesus hath any liberty, much 
less authority from his Lord, to use force in constraining or 
restraining the conscience, nor with the arm of flesh compel 
to the worship of God." (1) 

Although his opponents prudently retired from the field, so 
that there was no public discussion, this faithful testimony 
to the truth was fruitful of good. It led to thought, to a 
study of the word of God and to noble confessions of alle- 
giance to Christ. Among the number of those whose atten- 
tion was arrested and whose convictions were carried, was 
Henry Dunstar, an eminent scholar, and the first president of 
Harvard College. (2) . He at once took a decided stand. He 
"boldly preached against infant baptism, and for believers' 
baptism, in the pulpit at Cambridge in 1653, the year after 
our brethren were imprisoned at Boston." Mr. Dunstar lost 
in consequence his position at the head of the College, and 
soon after removed out of the Massachusetts jurisdiction. 
These events were moulding public opinion and preparing 
the way for the formation of a Baptist church in Boston, 
which took place in 1665. 

While Mr. Clarke was thus active and making his influence 
felt as a Christian and a minister in behalf of the cause of 
Christ, and when it would seem that he could be ill spared 
at home, he was summoned to proceed with all possible 
despatch t*o England on urgent business connected with the 
government of the colony. One of the leading citizens of 
the island had obtained a commission whicl/vacated the 
charter, and invested him with the Governorship of the 
island for life. It was a critical moment for the infant 
colony. Mr. Clarke and Mr. Williams, who were associated 

1. Ill Neirs. 4 Mass. Hist. Coll. II. 34-37. Backus, I. 182-184. 

2. Backus, II. 418. Benedict, History, 1813, 1. 379. See also Life of Dunstar, bv 
Jeremiah Chaplin, D. D. J 



■J.0 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

in the mission, were eminently successful in accomplishing 
their delicate task. And after this work was done, Mr. 
Clarke continued Tor twelve years to reside abroad, watch- 
ing over the interests of the colony, preventing any harm 
from coming to it through the machinations of its enemies, 
an I not quitting his difficult post until he had secured the 
great charter of L663, which hears the impress of his eminent 
abilities and practical skill. 

Meanwhile the church was left to the care of Messrs. 
Torrey and Holmes, two elders in the church. Within a 
year after Mr. Clarke had left for England, new opinions 
began to be broached and converts to be made to a new doc- 
trine, namely: that the imposition of hands upon all be- 
lievers was an ordinance of Christ, and as binding upon all 
disciples as baptism, or the observance of the memorial feast. 
The discussion began in 1652, and in 1656 twenty-one 
members withdrew to form a church which should embrace 
this new article of faith. This new doctrine gained ground 
very rapidly, making many converts in the colony. Many 
churches were formed, embracing this tenet, and toward the 
close of the seventeenth century an association of these 
churches was formed which held its annual meetings. 

A few brethren began in 1665 to keep the seventh day 
under the impression that the Scriptures inculcate it, and 
the church at first bore with those who had these conscien- 
tious scruples. But it was found impossible for* them and 
the church to walk together harmoniously, and in 1671 a 
small number seceded and formed a Sabbatarian church- 
Although the withdrawal of so many excellent members 
weakened the church numerically, these discussions were 
not entirely unprofitable, since they served to drive the 
members to a closer study of the Bible and to make them 
more familiar with its teachings. When the Boston church 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 21 

was in sore trouble in 1668, this church, ready with sympathy 
and prompt for action, sent them with all despatch a fraternal 
deputation bearing Christian salutations and words of cheer. 
After his return from England, Mr. Clarke resumed his pas- 
torship, and held it till his death, which occurred April 20, 
1676. 

This year, 1676, was one of sorrows to the church. Re- 
peared afflictions fell with severity upon it. Several standard 
bearers were removed by death. Early in the year Joseph 
Torrey died, having been for many years a "teacher" and 
"elder" in the church, one of those deputed to assist their 
brethren in Boston when in trouble ; and, during all the time 
of his residence in the. colony, being one of its most promi- 
nent citizens, holding many important offices, at one time 
that of Attorney General, and for several years that of Gen- 
eral Recorder, or, as we should now say, Secretary of State- 
Next to be removed, and. very suddenly, was the pastor 
himself, on the 20th of April. By his death a strong man 
was laid low, one of the most eminent men in the colony, 
whom his fellow citizens had honored and trusted through 
many long years, and whose counsels seemed essential to the 
colony's welfare, if not to its very existence. Although five 
years before he had withdrawn from all civil offices and 
retired strictly to private life and to the care of his church, 
his counsels were still sought. Only sixteen days before his 
death he was summoned to attend a meeting of the Court, 
or General Assembly, "the Assembly desiring to have the 
advice and concurrence of the most judicious inhabitants in 
the troublous times and straits into which the colony had 
been brought." And seven days later, he was appointed a 
commissioner to put the island in a state of defence, and to 
station signals, "to effect the premises with the greatest pos- 



22 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

Bible expedition for the safety of the whole." Hut we can- 
qoI here recounl the great services Mr. Clarke rendered the 
State, whirl) began with the very settlement of the colony 
and continued even to his death. He was a man of broad 
and Libera] views. Yet while a zealous advocate of the mosl 
advanced doctrines concerning personal liberty and the rights 
of conscience, lie was at the same time the earnest champion 
of law, affirming the importance of maintaining its integrity, 
— Christ's law in the church and civil law in the State. He 
was also in the fullest sympathy with every effort to give 
enlightenment to the people. His hand may lie discovered 
in the measure to secure a free school for Newport in 1G40. 
It was a personal friend who was entrusted with the execu" 
tion of the noble idea. And in his last will he remembered 
the cause of education, making it one care of his trustees at 
a time when educational advantages were very limited, to 
provide for the "bringing up children to learning." He also 
warmly loved this church, leaving it several bequests, ami 
speaking of it as the church "to which he was nearly rela- 
ted.*' WILLIAM Weedbn, the senior deacon, who had in 
April been named a trustee in the will of Mr. Clarke, himself 
died the last of the October following. And Mark Lucar, 
at an advanced age, died on the 26th of December, "leaving 
the character of a veiy worthy walker." 

Such were some of the heavy afflictions which had fallen 
en the church when Obadiah HOLMES became its pastor. 
He was born in Preston, Lancashire, England, about 1606, 
and was educated at the university (A' Oxford. He came to 
this country about 10-'> ( .>, and united with the Congregational 
church in Salem, and six years afterward removed to Reho- 
both (Seekonk), and assisted in forming a church of the same 
order in that town. About 1640, he, with others, after study- 
ing the teachings of Christ, changed their religious senti- 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 23 

merits, were baptized by Mr. Clarke, and formed themselves 
into a church, which, however, was of short continuance, as 
Mr. Holmes and most of the others, as we have already men- 
tioned, removed to Newport and became members of this 
church. He was made a "-teaching elder," and was one of 
the number who went to Lynn in 1651. While the other 
two delegates were only imprisoned and fined, Mr. Holmes 
suffered an additional punishment, probably on account of 
his course in Rehoboth. The punishment — whipping — was 
so severe that Gov. Jenckes says, (1) "He could take no rest 
except by supporting himself on his elbows and knees.'" Mor- 
gan Edwards (2) remarks, that "this was the first instance 
of tormenting for conscience sake in New England" ; adding 
that U A Baptist was the protomartyr here, as a Baptist was 
the first martyr that was burned in Old England." In a 
letter to Mr. Spilsbury, a London pastor, Mr. Holmes has 
given a detailed account of the scourging, and also of the 
supporting grace he had while enduring it. Besides letters, 
he has left a deeply interesting account of his early life and 
conversion to Christ addressed to his children, and also a 
confession of his faith. (3.)i Mr. Holmes died Oct. 15, 
1682. (4.) 

1. Benedict, History, I. 375. 

2. Materials for history of Baptists of li. I. R. I. Hist. Coll, VI. 332. 

3. Backus, History, I. 173-17(i, 187-193, 206-209. 

4. A writer in Appleton's Journal, Vol. XV., No. 376 (June, 1876), George Dudley 
Lawson, informs us that Mr. Holmes "brought the first pendulum-clock to 
America." In an interesting article entitled "An old clock," wherein is described 
this ancient piece of household furniture, Mr. Lawson says: "Time was, before 
the cheapening, enterprisng Yankee age, when that teller of the dropping hoars 
was a tradition except in the houses of the wealthy; and even they, the favored 
few, were only able to treat themselves to "horologes," as a general rule, after 
the year 1600 Anno Domini. The pendulum was the first application to popular- 
ize clocks, and it is not yet three hundred years ago that Galileo sat in church 
and caught the inspiration of the swinging lamp. It was in 1582, just a century 
before the death of the man who brought the first pendulum-clock to America; 
and that clock, one of the first of the kind ever constructed, is ticking away to- 
day in Brooklyn, keeping accurate time and claiming no small meed of admira- 
tion from the curious and venerating throng who know of its existence 

This ancient timepiece is one of the attractions of the Long Island Historical 
Society's rooms, having been presented to the society by John Holmes Baker, 
Esq., a descendant of tne reverend gentleman whose memory it serves to keep 
green . .It is most reasonable to look for the possession of the earliest pendu- 
lum clocks among scientists and literary men ; in fact, the astronomers of the 
Continent seem to have monopolized them at their first construction, and that a 
clergyman — a learned scholar — should possess and bring to America one of the 
first pendulum-clocks made, is certainly within the bounds of possibility." 

Ibid. pp. 726-728. 



I>4 HISTORICAL DIS001 R8E 

Besides those already tiamed and others we might mention 
if time permitted, there were two members during this 
period who deserve a passing notice. < >ne of these was Johu 

COOKE, who had been a Congregational minister in Ply- 
mouth colony, but having had his attention arrested by a 
small book by Mr. Russell, pastor of the Baptist church in 
Boston, he became a Baptist, and previous to 1080 united 
himself to this church. This circumstance was the occasion 
and the subject of a letter from John Cotton to his nephew, 
Dr. Cotton Mather. (1) It maybe of interest to know that 
John Cooke is said to have "come over with his father in the 
Mayflower. He was settled as minister at Dartmouth in 
1676. He was living in 1694, probably the oldest survivor 
of the male passengers in the -Mayflower.'" Another was 
Philip Edes, who was admitted a freeman at New port in 
1671, and was one of the witnesses to the signature of Mr. 
Clarke's will. He was a man of eminent business qualities, 
and of high social position. And he was at the same time a 
truly godly man who held all worldly distinctions as nothing 
compared with the honor of being a disciple of Christ. He 
had been a friend of Oliver Cromwell, and a helper in the time 
of the Protectorate. Dissatisfied with the state of the country 
in England, he had sought a home in Rhode Island. In a 
letter to Gov. William Leete, of Connecticut, Samuel Hub- 
bard paid this tribute to the worth of Mr. Edes : (2) "This 
friend of yours and mine, one in office in Oliver's house. 
was for liberty of conscience; a merchant, a precious man. 
of a holy life and conversation, beloved of all sorts of men. 
his death much bewailed bj all." It is pleasant to ret-all 
the memory of this Christian gentleman, who, though im- 
mersed in cares of business and of slate, was a devout 
Christian, an obedient disciple, a humble follower of Christ. 

1. 4 .\/<is» Hist. Coll. VIII, 261. 

2. BadCMj I. 405. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 25 

The doctrinal position of the church during the period over 
which we have passed maybe learned from the events already 
narrated, from the separations which had taken place, and 
from the confessions of faith of its pastors, which are strong- 
ly Calvinistic. The church was in frequent communication 
through some of its members with the Particular Baptists of 
London ; and letters were frequently passed between this 
church and the churches of Swanzea and Boston, both being 
at the time Calvinistic in doctrine. Incipient Socinianism 
was rebuked in 1673, when five persons were disfellowshipped 
for denying the deity of Christ, We know that singing in 
public worship was approved and practised, as it was one 
ground of the secession in 1656. But we have not learned 
what book of psalmody was used. Many churches, perhaps 
the majority of them, during this period objected to singing 
in the public worship of God. A spirited controversy was 
carried on in England upon the subject, in which the cele- 
brated Benjamin Reach took the affirmative and maintained 
his position with cogent arguments. One is perplexed to 
know what arguments could have been urged by the dispu- 
tant who took the negative on the question. We find, 
moreover, that the early fathers believed in child-conver- 
sions, and that children could profess faith in Christ and 
become members of the church. Samuel Hubbard's daughter 
Ruth was, Nov. 12, 1652, baptized at the age of twelve 
years. And such instances are numerous during the history 
of the church. We have already learned how widely the 
church had extended its influence, how potent it was in 
Massachusetts, how closely connected with the little centres 
of Baptist sentiment that were so frequently appearing in 
that colony. It possessed indeed the missionary spirit, and 
sought to # carry out the commission Christ entrusted to his 

churches. 

4 



26 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

About five years after the death(l) of Mr. Holmes, a 
young man from Boston came to this place and for "above 
two years" had been so "very diligent and laborious in 
preaching the gospel of Christ," that the church agreed to 
call him to become their pastor, and sent a letter to the Bos- 
ton church desiring them, in the language of the letter, "to 
set him apart for that work and legally ordain him by the 
orderly way of the gospel by laying on of the hands of your 
Elders, praying earnestly for him and us that God would in 
much mercy make him a blessing unto us during his abode 
with us, and also an instrument in the hands of God to the 
converting of souls, that the gospel from his lips may be so 
blest, and by God's Spirit so applied to the hearts of the 
hearers that it may prove to be to them the power of God 
unto salvation, so that they may first give themselves up 
unto the Lord, and then unto us by the will of God, to walk 
in the faith and order of the gospel as becomes all true con- 
verts." This latter certainly breathes the spirit of Christ, 
and shows a proper appreciation of a pastor's work. We 
almost instinctively ask how many of those who were then 
animated by all the hopes and fears of life, but have now 
for so many long years slept in death, were savingly bene- 
fited by the preacher's words and labors. 

This young man was Richard Dingley, who came from 
England to Boston, and was in 1684 received into the Bap- 
tist church there ; he came to this town about 1687, perhaps 
earlier, and was ordained two years later, and became pastor 
of this church. "The ordination," says Comer, "was by Mr. 
Thomas Skinner, pastor of the church in Boston, and .Mr. 
James Barker, a ministering brother belonging to this 
church.*' On assuming his charge, Mr. Dingley delivered a 

i "Mr. Backus savs. "Near three rears after." Q. i">. Cf. Vol. I. 419, 420. 

Comer, in copying the letter of ti burch asking assistance in the ordination, 

says, "The date being decayed ana torn <>ut of the letter, it can't De inserted 
exactly." 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 27 

judicious address to his church, "wherein he describes the 
duties of a pastor to his people, and of a people to their 
pastor, in a clear, scriptural light," says Mr. Backus, who 
had in his possession a copy of the address. About 1694 
Mr. Dingley resigned his office and removed to South Caro- 
lina. 

After his departure, the church was without pastoral over- 
sight for more than a decade of years, depending meanwhile 
upon occasional supplies. Though it must have seriously 
suffered during this interval, there were nevertheless signs of 
material prosperity. In 1707 the meeting house at "Green 
End," which, it has been suggested, and with probability, 
was the first meeting house, the one wherein Clarke and 
Holmes preached, was sold, and another built, which was 
finished the following year, upon a lot on Tanner street, 
given to the church by Mr. Clarke. 

Shortly afterward, the church began to look around among 
its own members for a suitable person to induct into the pas- 
toral office, and soon laid hands on William Peckham, who 
was ordained November, 1711. One Daniel White, who 
had come with a letter from England, was in 1718 chosen 
assistant pastor, but a serious trouble arose almost immedi- 
ately, which led to a temporary division of the church. The 
difficulty seems, from Comer's account of it, to have been 
occasioned by the headiness of Mr. White, who attempted to 
go forward without regard to proper order in the discharge 
of pastoral duties. "By virtue of the call and without the 
imposition of hands he administered all the special ordinances 
of the gospel." A council, called to adjust the difficulties, 
met with but little success. Mr. White is said to have been 
a member of Mr. Wallin's church in London ; if so, he does 
not seem to have imbibed the gentle spirit of his pastor. A 



28 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

meeting house was built for him in 172*, where he main- 
tained separate worship until the 21st of July, 172S, when 
the house was sold, "and he took farewell of the place on the 
7th of August. Thus the meeting upheld by him finished 

and the only surviving member that he left behind 

him was a solitary woman." "It is necessary," says the 
Lord of the church, "that offences come," but a woe is pro- 
nounced upon the troublers. Mr. Peckham maintained his 
official relations with the church until his death in 1732, 
though in his later life he was designated "elder," and his 
associate, "pastor." He was present at a church meeting, 
which, at his request, was held in his house, June 21, 1732; 
"at the close the ancient elder gave his good advice and 
blessing to the church, and the meeting closed." Though 
••his gifts were small," Mr. Peckham was a very worthy man 
and exemplary Christian. 

It was while Mr. White was maintaining his separate 
meeting, and the wounds were fresh which the controversy 
had made, that the church, having thoroughly repaired their 
meeting house, extended a call to a gifted young brother to 
become their pastor, who was to prove a great blessing to 
them. John Comer was born in Boston, Aug. 1, 1704, and 
pursued his studies first at Cambridge, and then at Yale 
College. When seventeen years of age, he united with the 
Congregational church in Cambridge. An intimate friend of 
his, Ephraim Crafts, had joined the Baptist church, which 
voiing Comer thought to be very improper and wrong, "and 
took the first opportunity to try to convince him of his error. 
After a considerable debate, Comer was prevailed upon to 
take and read Stennett upon baptism, which gave him quite 
other views of the subject than he ever had before."" 
lb resolved, however, not to act upon the convictions which 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 29 

had been fastened upon his mind, and entered college at 
New Haven. A storm at sea while he was upon its bosom 
between New Haven and Boston, and the tidings of the death 
of a dear friend, so deeply impressed his mind and' brought 
eternity so near to him, "as to spoil all his plausible excuses 
for the neglect of baptism" ; and the words of Christ came 
to him with irresistible force, "Whosoever shall be ashamed 
of me, and of my words, in this adulterous and sinful gen- 
eration, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when 
he cometh in the glory of his Father, with the holy angels." 
He accordingly determined to obey the call of duty, and was, 
Jan. 31, 1725, baptized by Rev. Elisha Callender, pastor of 
the Baptist church in Boston. 

He was called to the ancient town of Swanzea, where a 
Baptist church had been long established and Baptists were 
comparatively numerous, and the public sentiment was fa- 
vorable to them ; but he decided to accept an invitation to 
Newport, received at the same time, partly through the 
advice of his pastor ; who wrote to him (1) that "these two 
things, which congregation most needs help, and which field 
affords the fairest prospect of doing good, would determine 
me to go to Newport. And then, besides, some other con- 
siderations fall in, which should have their force ; and they 
are these : — your own comfort in the benefit of conversation, 
of which, to be sure, there is greater choice at Newport ; and 
then, again, as to your subsistence, which, as far as I can 
learn, is as like to be as comfortable at Newport as else- 
where." In view of what we already know of the condition 
of the church at this time, we can understand the import of 
the advice added by the pastor, in case a decision was 
reached in favor of Newport : 1. Study well all your public 
discourses and look upon it your business to compose ser- 

1. Backus, II. 17. 



30 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

mons in h handsome style and good method. 2. Carefully 
avoid all controversy in the pulpit. 3. Be sure that you 
oever enter into the contention that has been at Newport." 
Mi. Comer was ordained May 19, 1726. He entered into his 
work with all the ardor of youth, and gave a decided impe- 
tus to the church life. Singing, which seem6 to have fallen 
into disuse, was re-introduced into the public worship. Mr. 
Comer also commenced regular church records, and gathered 
much material toward a history of the church. Although a 
salary was voted him at the time of his settlement, an effort 
was early made to bring the church into conformity with the 
scriptural method of raising money — to induce every one to 
lay aside each week as the Lord had prospered. A vote was 
passed Sept. 8, 1726, "that a weekly contribution for the 
support of the ministry should be observed." During his 
ministry, many of those, nearly all indeed, who had gone off 
with Mr. White, returned to the church and were cordially 
received. 

Mr. Comer at length embraced the opinion, then finding 
many adherents, that hands should be laid upon all baptized 
believers, and in November, 172s, preached it as an ordi- 
nance of Christ and consequently as a Christian duty. This 
led to a severance of the pastoral relation, and his dismission 
from the church, January, 1720. As other reasons have been 
assigned for this action' on the part of the church and the 
pastor, it may be well to give Mr. Coiner's own words re- 
specting the cause of the separation. "This, and only this 
was the reason why"* we separated, "because I preached up 
the imposition of hands." (1) He subsequently went to 
Rehoboth, where, after gathering a Six Principle church, he 
died M;i\ 2:'.. L734, at the curly age of thirty years. Mr. 
Comer was a man of fervent piety and untiring industry. 
i. Manuscript In the keeping of the it. I. Hist. Soc. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 31 

He has left a name fragrant throughout our Baptist Israel. 
He rendered an invaluable service to the denomination by, 
rescuing and preserving many facts connected with its history 
which would have been utterly lost but for his faithful 
labors. 

Of the members of the church during this period, we may 
mention Philip Smith, who was baptized in 1662, and sub- 
sequently made a deacon in the church ; admitted a freeman 
at Newport in 1671, and one of the first trustees of John 
Clarke's estate. And James Barker, who was an elder 
and a teacher in the church, and assisted in the ordination of 
Mr. Dingley ; he was mentioned in the charter of 1663, and 
was one of the "judicious citizens" whom the General As- 
sembly called to its assistance during the trying times of 
1676. There were others who went out from the church to 
do excellent service in other places. Peter Foulger, the 
maternal grandfather of Benjamin Franklin, whom Robert 
C. Winthrop calls "New England's most wonderful son," 
was early interested in the conversion of the Indians and 
went himself as a missionary among them. Mr. Prince 
describes him as "an able, godly Englishman, employed in 
teaching the youth in reading, writing, and the principles of 
religion by catechizing; being well learned likewise in the 
Scripture, and capable of helping them in religious mat- 
ters." (1) He united with this church not far from 1676. 
After he became a Baptist he labored so zealously that Bap- 
tist principles prevailed extensively among them, and by 
1694 a Baptist church was in existence at Martha's Vineyard, 
and another on Nantucket. It would be interesting, too, to 
make mention of one or two Indian pastors, who maintained 
a consistent Christian walk. 

1. Quoted by Backus, I. 34<>. Cf. II. 507. 



32 HISTOEICAL DISCOURSE 

"The iirst Baptisl minister in the province," now the state 
l*of Pennsylvania," was Thomas Dinhan, ( 1 ) who was dis- 
missed from this church, and went to Coldspring, Buck's 
County, Pennsylvania, about the year 1684, "three fears 
after William Penn obtained his patent of Charles II." It 
is related that Elias Keach, son of Benjamin Keach, of Lon- 
don, arrived in this country, a vary wild youth, about the 
Mar 1686. While preaching on one occasion before a large 
audience, by way of reckless fun, he was seized with fearful 
compunctions of conscience and was strongly convicte'd of 
his enormous sins, and went in search of Mr. Dungan, by 
whom he was instructed and baptized, and then after a lew 
years he returned to England and became an eminent "and 
successful minister in London." Obadiah Holmes, son of 
the second pastor, (2) settled in New Jersey, first at Middle- 
town in 1<)HT, and afterward, in 1665, at Cohansey. He was 
the first preacher at the latter place, though not ordained : 
and says Edwards, "he continued an occasional preacher 
while he lived, though a Judge of the Common Pleas in 
Salem Court/' John Holmes, brother, I suppose, of the 
Obadiah just mentioned, bequeathed to the Church in 1748 
the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds, to be held by trus- 
tees appointed by the church, and the interest thereof "to be 
applied to and for the use of the Teaching Elder of said 
church or society." And if for any reason there be QO 
"1'astor and Teaching Elder" then during that time the in- 
terest accruing therefrom shall be applied to the poor of said 
church. Jonathan Holmes was a member of the church 
in 1711. 

i . Morgan Ed wards, Mali rials ,//■., p< nna. i>. 10. Benedict I. .".so. Backus, I. 221' 

2. Obadiah Holmes, (In- senior, pastor of tliis ehlireh, whose wife's name wu- 

Catharine, bad eight children, Mary, Martha, Lydia, Hopestill, John, Obadiah, 
Samuel and Jonathan. A grandson was living In Newport in 1771, In the B6th j ear 
of his age. "Se> eral of his descendants are yet in this government, some in Long 
[aland, fork, Bast and West Jersey. Pennsylvania, etc.," Bays Morgan Edwards. 
Materials etc., B. /. He writes In 1792, "Could all that Bprangfrom the above- 
named confessor, in male and female lines, be numbered, it Is supposed the] 
would amount to near 6000." Materials etc., a../, p. ss, 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 33 

The doctrinal position during this period remained un- 
changed. The several pastors, and, so far as appears, the 
members, were in accord with the doctrinal statements made 
at the beginning. In transcribing a portion of Mr. Clarke's 
Confession, Mr. Comer says : "Having found in the hands of 
brother Edward Smith, a small book written by Mr. John 
Clarke, the first pastor of this church, containing his judg- 
ment and the judgment of the church respecting that soul- 
supporting doctrine of personal election, which is at this 
present day so much contemned, for the establishing of the 
church under its present constitution in this glorious truth, 
I think it not improper to transcribe it, this 31st day of July, 
1727." A church covenant was written and signed in behalf 
of the church on the 4th of the preceding May, with this 
prefatory remark : "As to the covenant drawn up by this 
church and consented and subscribed to in its first constitu- 
tion, it being not to be found in the church, hereupon they 
thought it meet and convenient solemnly to subscribe one, 
as a testimony to their Gospel unity and order." 

Days of fasting and prayer, and of thanksgiving and praise 
were observed then as now. Some of the objects were those 
which we remember when assembled on like occasions ; 
others show the changes that have been wrought by the 
passing years. The 16th of N'ovember, 1727, "was observed 
as a day of thanksgiving to God," in the words of the 
record, "for the many mercies of the year past, for the plenti- 
ful harvest afforded, for the peaceable accession of his sacred 
Majesty King George the 2d to the throne, the deliverance 
granted in the late earthquake, and for the general health 
enjoyed etc" And the 28th of the following month "was 
observed as a day of fasting and prayer by the church for a 

sanctified use and improvement of the judgment of God and 
5 



34 rnsToiucAL nrscm ksk 

particularly the repeated and continued shocks of an earth- 
quake thai is still felt in the neighboring province, and our 
own deadness and dullness as to the power and life of 
religion, and the amendment of our ways and doings before 
the Lord, and for a blessing on the means of grace which we 
enjoy, that God will ble'ss them for the saving conviction and 
conversion of many precious souls." The efficiency of the 
church was increased by the choice of additional beacons, 
who were ordained by the imposition of hands : two, Peter 
Taylob and Samuel Maxwell, in 1724, and another, Wil- 
liam Peckham, in 1727. Evangelical work was done be- 
yond the immediate field of the church. A letter was 
received by the church in 1727 from several brethren in 
Springfield, "who had submitted to the holy ordinance of 
baptism and were now, as it were, like sheep without a shep- 
herd," asking that Mr. Comer might come and preach to 
them, "and administer the ordinance, if any should present" 
themselves as candidates. 

It would be interesting if we could have a bird's eye view 
of the town of Newport as it then appeared. Failing of 
this, we may be partially gratified by a lively description 
given by Dean Berkely, in a letter written April 24, 1729. 
He says, (1) "Here are four sorts of Anabaptists, besides 
Presbyterians, Quakers, Independents, and many of no pro- 
fession at all. Notwithstanding so many differences, here are 
fewer quarrels about religion than elsewhere, the people 
living peaceably with their neighbors of whatsoever persua- 
sion. . . .The town of Newport contains about six thousand 
souls, and is the most thriving in all America for bigness. 
It is pretty and pleasantly situated. 1 never was more 
agreeably surprised than at the first sight of the town and 
harbor." 

i Cullender, Elton's notes, pp. 31,32. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 35 

After the retirement of Mr. Comer, the church called 
John Callender to the pastorship, who was ordained Oct. 
13, 1731, u by fasting and prayer and imposition of hands, 
the churches of Boston and Swanzeain communion with us" 
being invited to assist in the service. A sermon from Mai t. 
XXVIII. 18, 19, was preached on tire occasion by his uncle, 
the Rev. Elisha Callender. Mr. Callender was born in Boston 
in 1706, and graduated at Harvard College in 1723, when but 
seventeen years old ; and the same year united with the Baptist 
church in Boston, of which his uncle was then pastor. For 
nearly a year and a half, from August, 1728, until February, 
1730, he supplied the Baptist church in Swanzea, when he 
received and accepted an invitation to become pastor of this 
chinch. The following record of a church meeting held 
only a few days after his ordination, has an interest for us ; 
it says: "After prayer to God that all our things maybe 
done in charity, in order, and to edification, we came to these 
agreements : That the last Lord's day in the month be the 
day for breaking bread, or administration of the Lord's sup- 
per ; That the fifth day before that be the church meeting ; 
That the second fifth day in the month be a Lecture day ; 
That such Lecture and meeting begin exactly at one o'clock, 
P. M." 

The one hundredth anniversary of the settlement of the 
island was fittingly celebrated by the church. The occasion 
was rendered memorable, first, by the erection on our pres- 
ent site of a new house of worship, the lot having been gen- 
erously given by two public spirited members of the society. 
The building still stands as a place of business, in a state of 
good preservation. It would have been well if, when sold 
by the church, it had been devoted to the purposes of a 
museum, or an antiquarian hall. The occasion was commem- 



.'it'. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

orated, secondly, by the delivery on the 24th of March, of a 
historical discourse by the pastor, generally known as the 
"( Vnturv Sermon." This sermon was the first history of the 
colon} of Rhode Island that was ever written, and is a classic 
on all that pertains to the early condition of the State. 
Mr. Callender continue* in the pastoral office till his death, 
which occurred Jan. 26, 1748. There is an oil portrait of 
him now in the Redwood Library, copied by Miss Jane Stuart 
from a painting by Smibert, the latter being deposited in the 
library of the Rhode Island Historical Society. 

Mr. Callender was a man of learning, a member of a phi- 
losophical society, which, it is said, "was select, and some of 
whose members were men of great intellectual "power" ; and 
which afterward obtained a charter under the name of The 
Company of the Redwood Library. He also took a lively 
interest in the public schools of the city, being himself for a 
time one of the teachers. But Mr. Callender failed to com- 
prehend the wonderful evangelical movement known as the 
Great Awakening, which during his ministry was sweeping 
with blessed influences over New England. When George 
Whitefield, on his first visit to New England, landed at New- 
port in 1740, Mr. Callender stood aloof from him and refused 
to give the remarkable preacher a welcome to his pulpit. 
He afterward wrote to England an unfavorable account of 
the work being done, and said : "I see no reason to alter the 
opinion I early entertained of Mr. Whitefield, that he was a 
second George Fox." Before penning these words Mr. Cal- 
lender had not studied either the work or the man with suf- 
ficient carefulness. If he could have witnessed the subse- 
quent results of the work, he would have rejoiced in them 
most heartily ? for he was a good man, and labored for the 
extension of the Redeemer's kingdom. In 1733 his church 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 87 

very considerately voted him a respite from home duties, 
that he might "visit and help the brethren at Springfield." 

He was succeeded in the pastoral office by Edward 
Upham, who was born in Maiden, Mass., in 1709, and grad- 
uated at Harvard in 1734. Having for a season served a 
church in Springfield, he became in 1748 pastor of this 
church. It was during his ministry that the Baptists of the 
country began to feel strongly the need of a college of their 
own, one that should be under their control, where their 
sons could have the best advantages for acquiring a liberal 
culture without being subjected to such tests as would do 
violence to their religious convictions. This feeling found 
expression first in word and then in act. All minds turned 
to Rhode Island as the most suitable place for the proposed 
undertaking. Consequently James Manning, a man of cul- 
tivated mind and consecrated heart, who was destined for 
many years to wield a strong and salutary influence for the 
cause of truth in Rhode Island and all New England, came 
to the State with the full concurrence and endorsement of 
the Philadelphia Baptists, charged with the difficult task of 
carrying into execution the contemplated plan, of transmu- 
ting into fact the noble idea. In 1764 he opened a school 
at Warren. But both Providence and Newport coveted the 
institution. And it is still one of the unsolved mysteries 
why the former town should have been chosen for the loca- 
tion of the College rather than the latter. Doubtless the 
leaders in the enterprise had what seemed to them good and 
sufficient reasons for their choice. Nor are we disposed for 
a moment to call in question the wisdom of their decision. 
Time itself has justified, if any justification were needed, the 
selection they made. Perhaps that which influenced them 
lies very near the surface. Were the Baptists here too 



38 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

liberal jusl at that time? Mr. Upham has had the reputa- 
tioD of being "dark in doctrine," and of holding rather 

loosely some of the distinctive principles of the Baptists. (1) 
Or, by uniting his duties with those of a pastor, could the 
President eke out a slender salary better in Providence than 
in Newport? For was not here "the centre of Baptist in- 
fluence?" Certainly here the Baptists were at that time tin- 
more numerous, having two churches instead of one. And 
"Newport was the second city in New England, and the 
centre of opulence, refinement and learning. In her 
extensive commerce and trade, her numerous manufactories, 
and her merchant princes, she excelled indeed all other eities 
in the American colonies." (2) Nevertheless, Newport, al- 
though deprived of the College, gave to it many warm friends, 
several of whom were enrolled among its benefactors and 
earliest corporators. Mr. Upham was one of its Board of 
Fellows from 1704 to 1789. And we express the hope that 
Newport Baptists will always show themselves the devoted 
friends of the College and take a lively interest in its wel- 
fare ; and, as they may have opportunity, help it to increase 
the number of advantages it may offer to the earnest stu- 
dent. Mr. Upham resigned the pastoral charge of the church 
in 1771, and returned to Springfield, where he continued to 
reside till the close of life. lb- deceased October, 171*7. 

ERASMUS KELLEY, who was horn in Buck's <'<>.. Pennsyl- 
vania, July 24, 1748, educated at the College of Pennsylva- 
nia where he was matriculated in 1769, and baptized the same 
year, succeeded Mr. Upham, being ordained pastor of the 

church, Oct. i>, 1771. (•>) The times were feverish. There 

i. See a sketch of him in Or. Sprague's Annalao/the American Pulpit, Vol. VI. 

2. Guild, Manning and Brown University, p. 113. And Or. Benjamin Waterhouse, 
Profess.ir in Harvard College, is quoted as saying, "Thelsland of Rhode [aland, 
from its salubrity, and surpassing beauty, before the Revolutionary War s.. 
sadly defaced It, was the chosen resort of the rich, ami philosophic, from nearlj 

all parts of tin' Civilized world." 

:t. In a brief notice of him writ ten in itto Morgan Edwards sa>s. "He Is a hope. 

fill youth!" Matt ritr/s fir. 1'iinui. p. 4(1. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 39 

were indications of the approaching civil conflict. A few- 
overt acts had already occurred. The revolutionary war was 
approaching. Nevertheless the church made extensive im- 
provements upon their meeting house, greatly enlarging it, 
nearly doubling its seating capacity, and opened it for public 
worship June 23, 1773, when Mr. Kelley preached from 
I Kings VIII. 27-29. In 1778 the British troops too k posses- 
sion of the meeting house, and the church were scattered. 
The war then waging between England and America fell with 
terrible effect upon Newport, completely paralyzing its in- 
dustries. Mr. Kelly left the town on the 19th of April, 1778, 
but, on the conclusion of peace between the two countries, 
returned April 24, 1784, and died the 7th of the following 
November. 

On the first Lord's day in January, 1785, Benjamin Fos- 
ter began his labors as pastor of this church, being formally 
installed on the 5th of the following June. Mr. Foster 
was born in Danvers, Mass., June 12, 1750, and gradua- 
ted at Y^Je College in 1774. While pursuing his studies in 
College, he was on one occasion appointed to defend pedo- 
baptism in a public debate. (1) He set himself resolutely to 
the task, and labored diligently to gather all the arguments 
usually relied upon to prove infant baptism, and to arrange 
them in due and logical order, turning constantly to the 
Scriptures at every step for confirmation. But what was his 
amazement to find the confirmation entirely wanting. As 
the result of his inquiries he disappointed both himself and 
others by becoming a convert to the opposite views, and 
publicly avowed himself a Baptist. He found on a careful 
study of the Bible, that only such as can profess faith in 
Christ are legitimate subjects of baptism. That in all the 
Bible there is not one precept, nor a single example, 

1. Biographical sketch, Benedict, II. 301. 



40 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

requiring or warranting the baptism of infants. That such 
an application of the ordinance is, indeed, pernicious ami 
wrong. And Mr. Foster, honestly acting upon his convic- 
tions, was baptized into the First Baptist church in Boston, 
by the Rev. Samuel Stillman, the pastor, with whom he 
studied theology. He was ordained Oct. 23. 1776, in Leices- 
ter. Mass., where he preached until he became pastor of this 
church. In September, 1785, the church voted to unite with 1 
the Warren Association. Two years later Tate and Brady's 
collection of hymns was superseded by Dr. Watts' Psalms 
and Hymns. Veiy large accessions were made during his 
pastorate. He was dismissed Sept. 15, 1788 to the First 
Baptist church in New York city, occasioning great sorrow to 
his people here. There are letters now on the books of the 
church which show that the members did not gracefully 
yield up their pastor, that they indeed almost charged the 
New York church with alluring him away by guile. Dr. 
Foster died Aug. 26, 1798. He was a man of wide and exact 
learning. Benedict (1) says, "As a scholar, particularly in 
the Greek, Hebrew and Chaldean languages, he has left few 
superiors. As a divine, he was strictly Calvinistic, and full 
on the doctrine of salvation by free grace. As a preacher 
lie was indefatigable." 

Among the members of the church during this period 
were Samuel Fowler, who was baptized into the church 
in 1759, and who was a member of the last colonial Assem- 
bly of Rhode Island which passed the bold act, ••the last 
important act in the colonial history of Rhode Island," which 
severed the colony from Great Britain and created it an in- 
dependent state; and WlLLIAM CliAGGETT, who united with 

the church in 1733, a very ingenious man. intimate with Dr. 
Franklin, and anticipating him in some of his experiments <>n 
i. Vol.II.p.SM 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 41 

electricity ; (1) and Hezekiah Carpenter, who became 
a member two years later, and who, together with Gov. Lyn- 
don, gave to the church the lot on which the present meet- 
ing house stands. Josias Lyndon, an attached friend of the 
church and one of its noblest benefactors, who, in 1778, be- 
queathed his mansion to the church for a parsonage, was 
"esteemed a man of piety, though he never joined the 
church." (2) His wife, Mary Lyndon, was a very devoted 
and influential member. 

The doctrinal position of the church has perhaps been 
already made sufficiently clear in the accounts given of the 
several pastors. It had not materially changed from that 
maintained at the beginning. During the ministry of the 
last pastor, the scattered members were gathered back to the 
fold and the ravages made by the war were entirely repaired, 
the church indeed receiving a large numerical increase. The 
sole surviving deacon, William Peckham, died on the 12th 
of April, 1784. The records of the following year inform 
us, that^'considering the circumstances and late increase of 
the church the propriety of having two deacons appeared, 
and at a church meeting called for that purpose" two breth- 
ren were chosen, Benjamin Hall and Joseph Pike, who 
were subsequently "publicly and solemnly ordained." The 
project was contemplated in 1733-4, in connection with Elder 
Wightman's church, of building a baptistery at Green End, 
perhaps after the model of the baptisteries of ancient times. 

1. "He constructed an electrical machine of such dimensions, as to occupy the 
principal part of one of the rooms of his house — He was intimate with the cel- 
ebrated Dr. Benjamin Franklin, and it is said that when the Doctor visited New- 
port some time previous to Mr. Claggett's death, although he had made some 
electrical experiments by the friction of glass bars, yet this was the first ma- 
chine of the kind he had ever seen — Subsequently to the death of Mr. Claggett, 
and while Dr. Franklin was in Philadelphia, his son, Thomas Claggett, desirous 
of setting up a machine on the plan improved by Dr. Franklin, and as a cylinder 
was not to be obtained in this part of the country, sent to the Doctor to procure 
one for him. His request was readily complied with by Franklin, who, when 
learning that it was for the son of" his old friend, William Claggett, refused to 
accept the money sent for its purchase." Ross, Historical Discourse, p. 36. 

2. Benedict, I. 5(10. In 1708, he "was elected Governor, by an overwhelming 
majority of nearly fifteen hundred." Guild, Manning etc. p. 66 

6 



V2 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

During- the same year the church discussed the feasibility of 
forming an association of the churches with which it was in 
ecclesiastical fellowship. The members were all agreed that 
such an association would be desirable, but for some reason 
now unknown the idea was not realized. Why the church 
was not a constituent member of the Warren Association in 
17<»7 is not clear. It may have looked with some jealousy 
upon those Baptist churches which arose out of the Separa- 
tist movement, and may have distrusted an association which 
was attempting to embrace such diverse elements. 

The church has always believed that within proper limits 
the members had "the liberty of prophesying," that it was 
not only their right, but their duty also, to cultivate the gifts 
that were in them for the good of the church and the glory 
of Christ. Speaking of its earlier history, Mr. Callender 
says: (1), "In this church there were several persons able 
to speak to the edification of the rest ; and I have been in- 
formed by tradition, that the greatest part of the inhabitants 
used to attend this worship, though the members in church 
fellowship were always but few." At this point in our nar- 
rative, we ma} r give the remark made by Benedict in his 
history. Having brought his account of the church down 
to the year 1788, he adds: (2) "We have now followed the 
succession of pastors of this ancient community for about a 
century and a half, and, what is singular among our denom- 
ination in early times, of these nine pastors, all but Mr. 
Holmes (he means Mr. Peckham) were men of liberal edu- 
cation." 

The next pastorate was to be a very important one, if for 
no other reason, because it was itself to span nearly a half 
century, comprising an entire period, as we have divided 

1. Historical Discourse, p. 118. 

2. History, edition of 1848, p. 466. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 4S 

the history of the church. After the removal of Mr. Foster, 
the church turned to Swanzea and called Michael Eddy to 
the pastoral office. He was born in Swanzea, Nov. 1, 1760, 
ordained in the same town in 1785, and called to the pastor- 
ship of this church, Aug. 10, 1789. Three years afterward, 
the church, without assigning any reason for the act, voted, 
in the words of the record, "-to remove our standing from the 
Warren Association," and the church remained unassociated 
during the remainder of Mr. Eddy's long pastorate. In con- 
sequence of this action the influence of the church was cur- 
tailed and its history during that time obscured. Hitherto 
the records of the church had been kept by the successive 
pastors, but in 1794 one of the members was chosen Church 
Clerk. John Tillinghast held the office until 1796, when 
John Lyndon was appointed, who held it for many years. 
During Mr. Eddy's ministry the church was greatly built up 
numerically. Several very powerful and extensive revivals 
prevailed and large numbers were gathered into the church. 
The years 1806, 1808, 1814, 1816, 1820, and 1828, were all 
signalized by large accessions. In 1806, seventy-one were 
added to the church, in 1816, forty-nine, and in 1820, one 
hundred and sixteen. 

But the church life did not always flow with an even cur- 
rent. There were occasional ripples on the surface, and 
once in a while concealed, though strong, counter currents. 
One or two troubles that arose were very annoying. One grew 
out of the sale by the pastor of a farm in Swanzea, contain- 
ing "seventy acres, more or less." The purchaser, a Mr. 
Stebbens, charged that the measurement fell short, and came 
to Newport claiming restitution. While the church agreed 
that the elder had so far as appeared dealt honorably, a few 
thought that for the sake of peace and the good name of 



44 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

the church, the man's claims should be acknowledged. The 
church, however, remaining firm, the few, instead of abiding 
by its decision, withdrew. The civil courts moreover, to 
which the matter had been referred, completely exonerated 
the elder, and vindicated his fair name. 

Very near the beginning of the present century, a bass 
viol was for the first time admitted into the meeting house 
and used in the public service on the Lord's day. When its 
notes were heard preparing to lead the people in their songs 
of praise, one good brother jumped from his seat, looked 
around him in astonishment, and then deliberately taking 
his hat marched out. For a long time afterward this brother 
would absent himself during the singing, resuming his place, 
however, in season for the sermon. It is said that one of the 
deacons had charge of the service of song, and that all those 
who were opposed to the new instrument were allowed to 
withdraw. 

In the year 1834 the First Baptist Society was incorpora- 
ted, and very extensive alterations and improvements were 
made in the meeting house, the old square pews giving place 
to slips of modern dimensions. Two of the deacons had 
been accustomed to sit — it was their official seat — just under 
the pulpit in front of the congregation; the ne.w arrange- 
ments disturbed this ancient custom. For many years the 
spirit of progress had been making innovations upon the 
habits of the worshippers. The old fashioned baskets into 
which the feet were placed to keep them warm, had been 
banished with the introduction of footstoves, and these in 
turn went into disuse when stoves were furnished to heat 
the air of the entire house ; as stoves have since given way 
to furnaces and other more modern contrivances. And this is 
only a single illustration of many changes which were going 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 45 

on apace. Footstoves, square pews and sounding board have 
all been displaced, and the viol has been succeeded by the 
more majestic organ. A Sunday School in connection with 
the church was organized in 1834, Benjamin H. Wilbur 
being the first Superintendent and continuing in office until 
1839. At different times, as occasion demanded, deacons were 
chosen and ordained. One, Jethro Briggs, in 1803 ; 
another, George Tilley, in 1813 ; two, Abner Peckham 
and Arnold Barker, in 1822 ; and again two, Benjamin 
W. Smith and Peleg Sanford, in 1833. 

Mr. Eddy possessed a large share of homely common 
sense ; and, if less familiar with books than were most of 
his predecessors, he thoroughly understood human nature 
and knew the art of managing men. He was a man of large 
physical proportions, with a pleasant face, familiar with his 
people and welcomed to their homes. He was furnished 
with a horse and carriage with which he frequently visited 
his widely scattered flock. There is a portrait of him, now 
in the possession of a daughter living in the city, painted by 
our senior deacon while yet quite a young man, showing in 
the youthful artist certainly fine possibilities if he had not 
turned his attention in another direction. Mr. Eddy had a 
large place in the esteem and affections of his people. 

But a cloud passed over the good man during his last years. 
He was suspected of unsoundness in his theology, of having 
a strong inclination toward Socinianism. And there were 
symptoms of uneasiness among his people. Circumstances, 
it must be confessed, seemed to justify the suspicion. Influ- 
ences were at work which were telling with effect upon the 
church, which were leading the pastor and many of the mem- 
bers away from evangelical Christianity, away from the doc- 
trinal position maintained when the church was organized 



46 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

and liv the successive generations of members since that 
lime. A sermon by a very celebrated Socinian preacher win. 
had been introduced into the pulpit, in which the death of 
Christ was thought to be disparaged and even held up to 
ridicule, was the occasion of deep grief to many of the best 
members of the church and subsequently of the withdrawal 
of several from its fellowship. For the sermon had revealed 
to them, they thought, a more serious defection on the part of 
the pastor than they had even supposed, and that many lead- 
ing members had become inoculated with the fatal error. (1) 
The pastor was, however, becoming old and enfeebled. An 
assistant, James A. McKenzie, was obtained in 1833, who 
remained two years and then identified himself with the 
Freewill Baptists. Full of years, Mr. Eddy was called 
hence June 3, 1835. He is still remembered with affection 
by many in the church. The older members who were bap- 
tized by him — the number is rapidly diminishing — fondly 
cherish his memory, and occasionally speak of "daar good 
Elder Eddy," as they love to call him. 

Besides the brothers already mentioned, there were sev- 
eral sisters whom we ought to name, who adorned this 
period an^ of whom the pastor could say they "labored 
with me in the gospel." There was Martha Clarke, bet~* 
ter known perhaps as Patty Clarke, wife of Joseph Clarke, 
and who it is said was "a saint indeed" ; and Mary Tilley, 
or as more generally called at that time, Polly Tilley, w ife 

1. One of those who had removed his membership from ihis to the North 
church, was pleasantly accosted by the pastor a few days afterward with the 
Inquiry, "Well, William, are they sound enough for you up there?" This same 
brother had a conversation with the gifted preacher mentioned above and told 
him that "there was one passage, if no other, in the good Book thai prevented 
him from receiving his doctrine; that passage was at the opening of John's Gos- 
pel : 'in tin- beginning was the word, and the Word was with God, and the Word 
was God,— and the WOBD WAS GOD.' " "Yes," said the Doctor, "that verse has 
troubled me; other passages bearing on the doctrine of the Trinity [think lean 
explain, bu1 this presents peculiar difficulties; now, however, I have an inter- 
pretation of it— 11 means one in office with God." The brother remarked thai 
"the New Testament writers have expressed themselves very strangely, it the] 
did not Intend to teach the doctrine of the o^ty of Christ, for thelx words cer- 
tainly convey that meaning to simple minds." This, we may add, Is one of the 
truths received, with rare exceptions, by the entire body of believers fromtue 
very beginning of the Christian church. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 47 

of Thomas Tilley, "a very pious woman," who kept a small 
shop which became a kind of rendezvous for the good sisters 
of the church, not to gossip or to tattle, but to talk concern- 
ing the things of the kingdom : and Mary Robbins, 
wife of Asher Robbins, (1) "a mother in Israel," who 
spent much time in visiting the poor and speaking 
words of cheer* to afflicted ones; and Mary Clarke 
Sherman, mother of our brother Charles Sherman, who 
was at the time of her death in 1862 the oldest member 
of the church ; and Susan Baker Howland, mother of 
Deacon Howland, who died in 1850. At a much later pe- 
riod than herself, her husband was baptized at the age of 
eighty years. The last two sisters were baptized by Dr. 
Foster, Mrs. Howland being his last candidate in Newport. 
And many others there were as worthy as these, whose 
names are written in heaven. 

The next period, embracing the four remaining pastorates, 
we must treat more briefly. While Mr. Eddy was very 
feeble and drawing rapidly toward the close of his life, the 
church called to the pastoral office Arthur Amasa Ross, 
who was born in Thomson, Conn., in 1791, and while yet 
quite young joined a Methodist church in his native town, 
where he early held meetings as a licensed preacher. While 
still in the town of his nativity he became a Baptist, and 
there in 1819 was ordained and began to preach. He entered 
upon his pastoral labors with this church Nov. 9, 1834, 
although the public installation services were not held until 
the 11th of the following March. In 1836 the church 
reunited with the Warren Association. The two hundredth 
anniversary of the settlement of the island was remembered, 

1. "Hon. Asher Robbins. LL.D. He was born in Connecticut, and was gradu- 
ated at Yale College in the year 1782. Soon after completing his collegiate course, 
he was elected a tutor under Manning, which office he held for eight years. From 
1825 to 1839 he was an honored and useful member of the United States Senate. 
He died in Newport in 1845." Guild, Manning and Brown University, p. 329. 



48 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

and the pastor, on the 4th of April, 1838, preached a bicen- 
tenary sermon. (1) During Mr. Ross's term of service, large 
accessions were made to the church every year. He closed 
his pastoral labors on the 1st of November, 1840, and after 
much successful toil upon other fields, died in Pawtucket, 
June 16, 1864. Mr. Ross had a vigorous intellect, and 
although deprived of educational advantages in his youth, a 
friend adds that "he was a severe student during all his early 
life, — yes, during all his life." He was positive in his con- 
victions, and as a preacher somewhat eccentric. He preached 
vigorously the old doctrines, and gave no quarter to what 
he believed to be error. Those who had embraced "another 
gospel" were filled with consternation. He had wonderful 
success in winning souls. Extensive revivals marked his 
entire ministry of about fifty years. "He baptized over 1400 
converts with his own hands, in the different places where 
he had served as pastor." 

On the 2d of January, 1841, Joseph Smith was invited 
to succeed Mr. Ross, and, the invitation having been accepted, 
commenced his labors on the 21st of February. Public in- 
stallation services were held on Wednesday, the 24th of 
March, "in connection with a series of meetings for worship 
to begin on the preceding Tuesday evening." Mr. Smith 
was born in Hampstead, N. H., June 31, 1808, and, having 
previously studied a year (1831-32) at the Newton Theolog- 
ical Seminary, graduated at Brown University in the class of 
1837, and the same year was ordained at Woonsocket, in 
this State. When he came to this church he found much 

l. The records say : "Wednesday the fourth day of April 1838, being the daj 
(few Style answering to the twenty fourth day of March Old Style on which the 
Rev. John Callender preached his Century Sermon." etc. of Mr. Ross's discourse) 
Penedict says: "This sermon em Dr aces the civil and religions history of Khode 
Island for two hundred fears. Mr. Ross has given an account, somewhat in de- 
tail, of the calamitous and distressing eventa of the war ol the Revolution; Its 
dilapidations; the scenes of personal injury and violence to which many of the 
Inhabitants were exposed while the Island was in possession of the British 
l roups. This discourse, with notes and appendix, makes a volume of one hundred 
and sixty pases, and has afforded me essential aid in my compilations in this 
part of t lie State." History, edition of ix4s, p. l<;7. 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 49 

pastoral work requiring to be done. It was a weeding time 
in the church. The list of members was thoroughly exam- 
ined, and the unworthy were stricken from the roll. Much 
labor was expended upon delinquents. There were never- 
theless accessions in the meantime. A powerful revival 
brought into the church, during the years 1842 and 1843, 
more than one hundred and thirty new members. In May, 
1842, "It was agreed that the pastor may hold church meet- 
ings out on the island for hearing religious experience and 
the reception of members, whenever he may think proper." 
Great credit is due the pastor for his unwearied efforts to 
secure for the church a new meeting house, which was built 
on the old site, the former house having been sold and re- 
moved. The new house measured 62 by 72 feet, and was 
capable of seating about 1000 people. It was built at the 
moderate cost of $10,000. As so often happens, all could 
not see alike in regard to the best way of accomplishing 
the great enterprise. Some were unable to appreciate the 
importance of it at all, and placed themselves in opposition. 
But the good work was notwithstanding carried forward to 
a successful issue. At ten o'clock, on the morning of May 
13, 1846, the "new meeting house was dedicated to the wor- 
ship of God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. ,, A 
sermon was preached on the occasion by the pastor from 
Psalm XLV. 6, 7. (1) The following year a hand book was 
prepared for the members, embracing the Church Covenant 
adopted in 1727, together with an appendix containing reso- 
lutions which had from time to time been adopted by the 
church. In the service of song the Psalmist displaced 

1. During the erection of their new house the church worshipped in Clarke 
street, in the house where|I)r. Stiles and then Dr. Patten had preached, and which 
is now owned by the Central Baptist church, though it has recently been so thor- 
oughly remodelled as to be virtually a new house. The Central church was orga- 
nized in 1847. 

7 



50 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

WineheH's edition of Watts. Mr. Smith resigned liis pas- 
1 1 >i ship Aug. 19, 1849, and after good work done elsewhere, 
though with constantly failing health, he died at North Ox- 
ford, Mass., April 26, 1866. He did for this church a noble 
service. From the impulse received through him, the church 
took an onward movement in almost every department of its 
activity. As a preacher he was close, searching, and emi- 
nently evangelical. He aimed to indoctrinate the members 
of his flock, and ground them in the teachings of Scripture. 
He was succeeded by Samuel Adlam, who was called to 
the pastoral office Oct. 14, 1849. He was born in Bristol, 
England, and had the privilege in his youth o! listening to 
the eloquent Robert Hall and of looking upon the form of 
the incomparable Andrew Fuller. At the age of twenty- 
two he came to this country, and was soon after baptized 
into the First Baptist Church of Boston. November 3,1824, 
he was ordained at West Dedham, and subsequently, in 1838, 
graduated at the Newton Theological Institution. The 
presence of my venerable predecessor with us to-day forbids 
my speaking of him and of his work, as would otherwise be 
proper. But I may be permitted to say that very large 
accessions were made to the church, especially during the 
years 1854 and 1858. The 7th of May, 1854, is still fresh in 
the memory of many of the members of the church, when 
nearly fifty persons received the right hand of fellowship ; 
when "the house was filled to its utmost capacity, the 
silence like that of eternity; the candidates stretched 
across the house in front of the pulpit, and for some 
distance up each aisle/' Fidelity to the record com- 
pels me to remark that about 1860 a difficulty arose in the 
church which continued long, and was the occasion of intense 
bitterness and alienation even between chief friends. Men- 
tion is now made of it as a matter of history, not to open 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 51 

afresh the closing wounds. The hand of time and especially 
the grace of God are, I trust, obliterating even the scars. 
During Mr. Adlam's ministry all the wood-work in the inte- 
rior of the meeting house was painted, and a new organ of 
singular sweetness was placed in the gallery. This church, 
together with nineteen others situated in the southern part 
of the State, in 1860 withdrew from the Warren Associa- 
tion for the purpose of forming a new body, to be known as 
the Narragansett Association. Mr. Adlam resigned his 
charge of the church June 27, 186*4, but still finds his home 
among us. 

The present pastor commenced his labors with the church 
March 12, 1865. The material changes which have since 
been made are, first, the remodelling of the vestry, removing 
the old furnace and substituting two, one on either side of 
the house, and transferring the platform from the north to 
the east side of the room, the seats being placed to corre- 
spond ; and secondly, the purchasing of three adjoining 
estates and taking the buildings therefrom so as greatly to 
enlarge our meeting house lot, a much needed improvement ; 
but only one of several others that should follow. In this 
connection mention should be made of the kindly offices of 
our brother Felix Peckham, who bought the property and 
held it till the church could take it off his hands, and him- 
self gave $500 towards the purchase. 

During this period, the period now continuing, we notice 
that changes of various kinds have been taking place, and 
that some real progress has been made. We think there has 
been a decided advance in the benevolence of the church, 
and some growth in knowledge of the word of God. At. 
different times members have received the approbation of the 
church to exercise their gifts in the ministry of the Word. 
I have not, however, ascertained how many brethren have 



52 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

been sent forth as preachers of the gospel. As occasion de- 
manded, deacons have been elected. There was one chosen 
in L887, Benjamin l>. Howland, (1) now and for many 
years our senior deacon, the first deacon in the church never 
formally ordained by the laying on of hands; two were 
elected in 1S4G, Samuel S. Peckham and Bex.i amis' W. 
Smith, the latter, having sometime before resigned, being 
now re-chosen ; two also in 1857, Stephen S. Albro and 
Samuel Eyles. There were four elected in 1867, Gilbert 
Tompkins, a man of tender feelings yet decided convictions, 
and very helpful to his pastor, who died in 1868, also George 
M. Hazard, Thomas H. Clarke and George Nason, and 
in 1874, Ara Hildreth ; the last four still serving the 
church. 

What a throng of persons, members of the church during 
this period, whom we ourselves have known and loved, crowd 
the memory at this hour, whose names it would be a delight 
to mention. Some of these departed ones illustrated in a re- 
markable degree the grace of patience in the midst of sore 
phvsicaHnfirmities, as our sister Ann Tilley, wife of Thomas 
Tilley, who for more than ten years was unable to walk a 
single step; and our sister Eliza F. Easton, wile of James" 
C. Easton, who during the prolonged period of thirty-five 
years was confined to her bed, unable even to move herself ; 
yet habitually cheerful, inquiring with interest after the wel- 
fare of Zion, and ministering comfort indeed to those who 
called to comfort her. An invalid, too, for many years, was 
our brother F. "Augustus Peckham, who, nevertheless, 

1. For fifty consecutive years Mr. Rowland was in the public service of his 
native town, both before and after its incorporation as a city, serving as Town 
and City and Probate Clerk, being elected for tin- fiftieth time in the spring of 
The city honored itself and a faithful public servant, by presenting to iiim 
the foUowlng year a heavy gold medal, which it had caused to be struck and 
suitably engraved at the united stales mini In Philadelphia. The medal bears 
on its obverse the city seal, and on its reverse ttie foUowlng Inscription : "THE 
CITY OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND, TO BENJAMIN B. HOW LAND : A. TESTIMONIAL 
FOB FAITHFUL PUBLIC SERVICES TO NEWPOET D USING. A PERIOD OF FIFTY 
VF.AHH. lXTti." 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 53 

overcoming almost insuperable difficulties, left numerous 
beautiful works of art, including several exquisite gems, 
which attest alike his genius and his persistent industry. 
John F. Chase was just graduated at college and the Law 
school, and was about entering upon his chosen profession 
with the dew of youth still upon him, when he was called 
from us ; but he had given evidences of a rapidly maturing 
Christian character. Deeply interested as he was in his studies, 
he had become even more interested in the welfare of immortal 
souls. How many husbands and their wives does busy mem- 
ory recall, who together through many years travelled the 
way of the Lord. There were the Dennises, long among 
the most active members of the church ; and the Reming- 
tons, who at their death left a thousand dollars to the 
church as a token of love ; and the Stillmans, so fond of 
Bible study and of repeating "the old, old story" ; and the 
Perrys, who manifested till the last a deep interest in the 
prosperity of the church. But where shall I stop in my enu- 
meration ? Other names leap to the lips, as sacredly cher- 
ished ; but time forbids that we pronounce them. All of 
these, and many others whom we fondly remember to-day, 
could with truth each one for himself adopt the words of the 
Psalmist : "If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand 
forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my 
tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not 
Jerusalem above my chief joy." 

In looking back and taking a general survey of the entire 
period over which we have now passed, extending through 
so many generations, we are more than ever impressed with 
the fact that dates, or statistics of any kind, or the enu- 
meration of names, however long and imposing, but poorly 



"»4 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

represent the real life and history of a church of Christ, of a 
company of God's people. That life, that history, is 
Largely a hidden one, concealed from the eye of man and 
known only to him who sees in secret and will reward 
openly. That life lies within the region of motives, and con- 
sists of aspirations, of heart struggles, of conquests over self, 
of a controlling purpose to "live soberly, righteously, and 
godly, in this present world." Nay more, that "life is hid 
with Christ in God." This inner, spiritual life will, however, 
with more or less exactness, appear in the outer life, the life 
that is seen by men. The inner life, that of earnest prayer, 
of intimate communion with the word of God, of intense 
desires after holiness and conformity to the divine will, must 
transcribe itself in the outer life, in the holy endeavor, the 
chaste conversation, the godly walk, the unwearied activity 
for Christ and for the good of men. But there may be 
correct deportment wholly dissociated from a renewed nature ; 
an irreproachable life that does not have its root in sanctified 
affections. The outer life, pure and noble as it may be, is of 
intrinsic value only as it is a reflection of the inner, only as 
it springs from a regenerated heart, from a heart in sympa- 
thy with the mind and will of God. Hence the injunction 
of the wise man : "Keep thy heart with all diligence ; for 
out of it are the issues of life." Upon the heart God looks 
in estimating men. He recognizes his saints wherever found, 
and in whatever garb. He remembers them when men have 
forgotten them. How many have lived, have fought the 
good fight, have struggled here below, have had their 
sorrows and their joys, and passed away from this church to 
their reward, of whom we know absolutely nothing save their 
names, and these are in many cases entirely gone. Their 
memory has perished from off the earth ; but the covenant 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 55 

keeping God remembers them, and their names are written 
in the Lamb's book of life. And even upon the earth their 
influence may still live and be perpetuated among men. It 
is this spiritual fruit, the holy life, the godly conversation, 
the humble faith, • the joyful hope, the sweet obedience to 
the divine will, which the Lord seeks and which is pleasing 
in his sight. Ah ! happy the man, though unknown to his 
fellows or entirely forgotten by them, that can lay such fruit 
as this at the feet of his Savior and King. 

God estimates men, churches, communities, not by their 
ancestry, by the line of history they may be able to trace, by 
any achievement of others in the past, but b} r what they 
themselves are and have attempted to do for him and for the 
good of men. Every generation in this church has had to 
make its own record, its own history. Every individual 
member indeed has had to stand or fall according to his own 
acts. Alone must every one make answer to his God in the 
great day of final account. These truths have a special 
application to us. We cannot wear the laurels others may 
have won in the past. We all have our own work to do. 
The general character of a church may vary very much in 
the course of its history. Though enterprising and progressive 
.in one period, it may be sluggish and stationary in another. 
The general character of a church at any given time is 
determined by the character of the members composing it at 
that time. This church will be, during our term of service, 
very much what we make it. If it is to be progressive we 
must be awake and active. While we may rejoice in the 
noble history of the church, and in all the grand achievements 
of the fathers, let us remember that their faithfulness to 
trusts reposed in them can in no way atone for remissness 
on our part, that we must be judged by tlie manner in which 



56 HISTORICAL DISCOURSK 

we act our several parts in the drama of life. Nevertheless 
we are not, cannot be wholly dissociated from the past. It 
should, it will have its influence upon us. The character 
and example of the fathers is a legacy to us of inestimable 
value. May their exalted lives and heroic services become 
an incentive to us, an inspiration for the future. May we 
prove ourselves to be the worthy sons of noble sires. May 
the great truths which they so deeply loved and earnestly 
defended, and for the sake of which some of them so severely 
suffered, be firmly held by us and by us made known to 
others. Let us never forget the fundamental principles on 
which this church rests, and for the defence and advocacy of 
which she stands. Let us never be recreant to these princi- 
ples. Let us hold them firmly and at the same time with a 
loving spirit. Let us learn to be severe with ourselves while 
charitable toward others. Let our convictions of truth and 
duty be as sharply defined and as narrow as the commands 
of Christ, while our sympathies and love are as catholic and 
broad as the human family. 

We are constrained to mention, though but briefly, four of 
these principles. The first respects the Kingship of Christ 
in the realm of religious faith : it declares that he is Lord 
of the conscience and Head of his church ; "that Jesus Christ 
is King in his own kingdom, and that no others have author- 
ity over his subjects, in the affairs of conscience and eternal 
salvation." His words do not come to his people as recom- 
mendations, but as commands ; they are not of the nature of 
counsel, of advice, they are laws binding on the conscience. 
As King he requires and must receive the allegiance of all 
his subjects. His commands of whatever nature must be 
implicitly obeyed. His authority over the soul is absolute 
and must be acknowledged without question. To his church 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. ;")7 

he has given a body of laws sufficient for it through all its 
changeful history, whether it find its home in the sunny. 
South or in the frozen North, whether the times be peaceful 
or such as try men's souls ; for all times, whatever be its condi- 
tion, when the church is petted and patronized by the»vorld, 
and when the fires of persecution are lighted, Christ's laws 
are sufficient ; needing to be neither abolished, nor modified, 
nor even suspended in any part. His laws, as he gave them, 
must continue in force till the end, must govern the church 
till its mission shall cease. 

The second respects the liberty which every one 
must have to obey this Christ, this King. This is but 
the converse of the last. Since Christ is Lord of the con- 
science, no civil power has the right, to put foot within its 
realm. It must be left free in its actions toward its King, 
to obey or disobey him, to accept or reject him. Freedom 
from civil pains and penalties on account of matters of faith, 
of opinion, of thought, this was the doctrine for which our 
fathers contended so earnestly and successfully both in Eng- 
land, and at the settlement of this colony. It was just this 
freedom of the domain of conscience from the domination of 
the civil power. Not freedom from the obligations of law — 
Christ's law in the church and civil law in the state, nor 
from definite convictions of truth and duty. The freedom 
which they advocated, "soul liberty," as it was called, was 
sought not as an end, but as an indispensable condition of a 
higher good. They claimed it as their liberty, their right, 
to think, to choose, to study the Bible, God's word to them, 
and according to their own convictions, enlightened by 
Scripture, to organize themselves into churches. 

The third principle respects the sufficiency of Scrip- 
ture AS A RULE OF RELIGIOUS FAITH AND PRACTICE. 

8 



5fi HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

Herein is recorded the will of the King. Christ is the 
Lawgiver of his people, and the Bible is the law-book he 
has left for their guidance. No dictate of reason, no sup- 
posed supplementary revelation, no "inner light," can be 
pin o^-r against its plain teachings. No more can the 
utterances of "the church," or the traditions of "the fathers," 
be exalted to a place of co-ordinate authority. The voice of 
the fathers is to be heeded only as it harmonizes with this 
inspired oracle. The Scriptures are in a peculiar sense the 
w< »rd of God to his people. How they lost their supremacy in 
the church and in the world, — this forms one of the sad chap- 
ters in history. Taken from the hands of the people, crowded 
into the background, locked up in dungeons, and finally 
burned by the common executioner, — these were the succes- 
sive steps by which the Bible was degraded from its supreme 
place of authority and power. "The Bible alone" as the rule 
of doctrine and duty was one of the battle cries of the Ref- 
ormation in the sixteenth century, and of Puritanism in the 
seventeenth. During these periods Baptists made their 
voice heard. This was then one of their distinctive tenets* 
as it is still one of their articles of faith. From the Bible 
they learn the way of salvation, and the constitution of the 
Christian church ; that Christ alone is the Savior of men : 
that personal faith unites to him and appropriates his work : 
that the church is composed of believers in Christ, or regen- 
erate members; that baptism, symbol of the new birth, can 
be administered only to believers, not to infants, or unbeliev- 
ing children ; and that the immersion — nothing less and 
nothing else, the complete submergence expressing the com- 
pleteness of the change symbolized, from death to life — the 
immersion in water of a believer making profession of his 
faith in Christ, is alone Christian baptism. And no custom 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 59 

however honored, no tradition however hoary, can turn 
them from these plain teachings of the word. Nor will they 
for a moment give way^to the plea of 'expediency. Let us 
be among the number of those who hide the word in their 
hearts that they may not sin against God. 
f The fourth principle respects the regenerated material 

OF WHICH THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS COMPOSED. Christ 

goes before the church and before the ordinances of the 
church. First a knowledge of Christ, and then a profession 
of that personal knowledge. One must know Christ before 
he can take on his name or assume the vows of discipleship. 
We do not enter the church in order to be saved, but being 
saved we enter the church by baptism according to the 
Lord's requirement. Then, having beer, baptized and admit- 
ted to membership in the church, we sit at the table of the 
Lord and, as he appointed, commemorate his death. Thus 
the older of the ordinances is made very plain both by the 
teaching of Scripture and by the symbolic meaning of the 
ordinances themselves. There is first the new birth, and 
then the new life. Having first received Christ Jesus the 
Lord, we then walk in him. Even so having symbol- 
ized the new birth, we may then with propriety set forth in 
symbol the continuance of this new life and its sustentation. 
Thus it is that the two ordinances, observed in their proper 
order, become eloquently expressive of great spiritual facts, 
a vivid representation of the central truth that from Christ 
crucified springs our new life, and that by the crucified and 
risen Christ this new life is sustained. 

These are some of the principles inscribed on the banner 
which the fathers who organized this church unfurled to the 
breeze. The standard they held aloft so triumphantly at a 
time when it cost them something to be faithful to their con- 



''><> HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 

notions of duty, may we never be guilty <>f trailing in the 

dust. May we bear it forward with as brave a heart and as 
firm a hand. While, however, remaining true to our princi- 
ples and loyal to our King, we love all that love our Lord 
Jesus Christ in sincerity and in truth, and bid them God 
speed in every good word and work; we can strike hands 
with them in every enterprise that does not compromise our 
allegiance to Christ. We are bound to reach out constantly 
toward the things that make for peace, and to seek the 
oneness of believers in the truth. That all believers may 
"arrive at the unity of the faith and of the true knowledge of 
the Son of God, unto a full grown man, unto the measure of 
the stature of the fullness of Christ," we will labor and pray. 
We must all become earnest students of the word God has 
given to instruct and guide us, and also imbued with the 
missionary spirit, the spirit manifested by the early disciples 
who went everywhere declaring the truth. We need not 
only to hold the principles, but to catch the spirit of the 
early confessors and martyrs who counted not their lives 
dear unto themselves, but went forward in the path of obe- 
dience, though bonds and afflictions awaited them. 

Encouragement enough have we for our work, enough to 
stimulate all hearts, and quicken to intensest activity. First, 
in the simple command of the Lord, which expiesses his 
will and pleasure ; secondly, in the promises he has given of 
the ultimate triumph of his truth, and of the abundant 
rewards that shall be received by all those who continue 
faithful unto the end; and thirdly, in what has already 
been done, in the progress that truth has already made in the 
earth. What changes have been wrought since this church 
was first gathered. Previous to that time, Baptists, hunted 
and persecuted, had maintained a constant struggle for 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 61 

existence. Bands of disciples in and about London held 
meetings in great secrecy, and doubtless observed the ordi- 
nances. For several years after the organization of this 
church, the number of Baptist churches in both England and 
America was very ' small, every attempt to organize 
outside of Rhode Island being met by the strong arm 
of civil power. In 1688, the American colonies embraced a 
population of only 200,000, and it is supposed there were but 
thirteen Baptist churches. A century later, in 1784, when 
the population of the country had increased to 3,300,000, 
there were 471 churches, 424 ministers and 35,101 members ; 
the proportion being as one member to ninety-four inhabi- 
tants. In 1871, the population of the country was 38,555,283, 
and the number of Baptist churches 17,745, of ministers 
10,818, of members 1,419,493; the proportion being as one 
member to twenty-seven inhabitants. In 176*0, Dr. Ezra 
Stiles, of this city, estimated that in New England the 
Baptists were one twentieth as numerous as the Congrega- 
tionalists. In 1864, a century later, they were eleven 
twentieths ; and in all the Free States thirty-one twentieths. 
Baptists have had indeed a wonderful numerical growth. (1) 
Still more wonderful, if possible, has been the growth of 
our principles. (2) Some of these are now the accepted tenets 
of Christendom. We may rejoice that all communions hold 
the doctrine of the separation of church from state, of liberty 
of thought and worship for all men ; and also that all evan- 
gelical denominations hold, in theory at least, the doctrine 
of a regenerated church membership, and of the sufficiency 
of Scripture as a rule of faith and practice. The best biblical 
scholarship of the age goes still further, and endorses 
also our interpretation of Scripture as to the ordinances. 

I. See The Baptists in the United States, by Geo. W. Anderson, D. D. pp. 7 8 28- 
also the Paper by Dr. Brooks in The Hfissionary Jubilee, pp. 303, 304. 

2 Read Progress of Baptist Principles in the last hundred i/ears, by Thomas F 
Curtis. 



62 HISTORICAL DIBCOtTBSE. 

Marked has been the advance during the last two hundred 
years in a critical knowledge of the Bible. And equally 
marked have been the concessions during this period to our own 
denominational views. It would be interesting and instruc- 
tive to contrast the utterances upon our principles given at 
the time when Dr. Featley and good Richard Baxter wrote, 
with utterances at the present time. 

At the risk of unduly prolonging these closing sentences, 
we are disposed to cite the testimony of a few scholars which 
should be known, but which may not be accessible, to all 
the members of this church. The great Neander, "father of 
modern church history," says (1) respecting the scriptural 
warrant for infant baptism: "As baptism was closely united 
with a conscious entrance on Christian communion, faith and 
baptism were always connected with one another ; and thus 
it is in the highest degree probable that baptism was per- 
formed only in the instances where both could meet together, 
and that the practice of infant baptism was unknown at this 
period. We cannot infer the existence of infant baptism 
from the instance of the baptism of whole families, for the 
passage in 1 Cor. XVI. 15, shows the fallacy of such a con- 
clusion, as from it appears that the whole family of 
Stephanas, who were baptized -by Paul, consisted of adults. 
That not till so late a period as (at least certainly not earlier 
than) Irenaeus, a trace of infant baptism appears, and that 
it first became recognized as an apostolic tradition in the 
course of the third century, is evidence rather against than 
for the admission of its apostolic origin." On the form of 
the rite, he sa}^s : "The usual form of submersion at baptism 
practised by the Jews, was passed over to the Gentile 
Christians. Indeed, this form was the most suitable to 
Bignify that which Christ intended to render an object of 

l. Htetoryqf the Planting and Training of the Christian Church, editedby i <•. 
Robinson, I). i>. pp. mi, 162, 



FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. 63 

contemplation bj^ such a symbol ; the immersion of the whole 
man in the spirit of a new life.*' 

In his learned Commentary on Romans, Dr. Lange, upon 
the passage in chapter VI. verse 3, "Know ye not that so 
many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ" etc., remarks, 
This "means strictly, to immerse into Christ — that is, into 
the fellowship of Christ." The American editor, Dr. Schaff, 
adds in a note on verse 4, "All commentators of note (except 
Stuart and Hodge) expressly admit or take it for granted 
that in this verse the ancient prevailing mode of baptism by 
immersion and emersion is implied, as giving additional force 
to the idea of the going down of the old and the rising up of 
the new man." Among the commentators cited by him as 
holding this opinion are the following : — Bloomfield : "There 
is a plain allusion to the ancient mode of baptism by immer- 
sion." Conybeare and Howson : "This passage cannot be 
understood, unless it be borne in mind that the primitive 
baptism was by immersion." Webster and Wilkinson: 
"Doubtless there is an allusion to immersion, as the usual 
mode of baptism, introduced to show that baptism symbolized 
also our spiritual resurrection." "Compare also Bengel, 
Ruckert, Tholuck, Meyer," Ebrard, and many others. 

Dean Stanley, in his elegant Lectures on the history of 
the Eastern Church (page 117), states his conclusion respect- 
ing the original form of baptism and the manner of its 
corruption, in the following words: "There can be no ques- 
tion that the original form of baptism — the very meaning of 
the word — was complete immersion in the deep baptismal 
waters ; and that for at least four centuries, any other form 
was either unknown, or regarded, unless in the case of dan- 
gerous illness, as an exceptional, almost monstrous case. To 
this form the Eastern Church still rigidly adheres. . . .The 



64 HISTORICAL DISCOUR8E 

Latin Church, <>n the other hand. . . .lias wholly altered the 
form. . . .and a few drops of water are now Hie Western sub- 
stitute for the threefold plunge into the rushing rivers, or the 
wide baptisteries of the East." 

These area few of the testimonies, outof many others thai 
might be cited, given by scholars of the highest eminence 
to the scriptural ness of our views of the subjects and the 
mode of baptism. Very many, including several of the 
pastors of this church, have, because of convictions which 
a studv of the word of God had fastened on their minds, 
severed their former ecclesiastical relations and become Bap- 
tists. Following the convictions which truth impressed upon 
them, Dr. Adoniram Judson and Dr. Horatio B. Hackett, 
etch incomparable in his own department of toil, left their 
former friends and associates, and allied themselves with 
that people "everywhere spoken against." Our only ques- 
tion should be to know what Christ has commanded. Our 
duty is to render implicit obedience. He has spoken the 
words. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." May we 
comply with his requirements so cheerfully as at last tothear 
from his lips the welcome words, "Well done, good and 
faithful servants." For he is faithful to perform all he has 
promised. While upon earth there is constant change, and 
men come and go, and generations appear for a little time 
and then pass away, our God abides, and forever the same. 
The God of our fathers is our God, and will be the God of 
his people during the ages to conic. 



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